Drivers react via social media to Tony Stewart/Kevin Ward incident - MotorSportsTalk

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is currently preparing for this afternoon’s Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International, but for many in the sport, their thoughts right now are with the family of Kevin Ward Jr.

The 20-year-old sprint car driver was killed last night in a sprint car incident that involved three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart.

Earlier this morning, Stewart Haas Racing competition director Greg Zipadelli announced that Stewart would not compete in today’s race and that Nationwide driver Regan Smith would take his place in the No. 14 SHR Chevrolet.

Many drivers throughout NASCAR have used social media this morning to react to the sad situation, including Cup superstars Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Here are some of the posts…

JIMMIE JOHNSON

Racing with a heavy heart today… Thoughts and prayers for the Ward family.

— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) August 10, 2014

DALE EARNHARDT JR.

We will all loose someone in our time. When a loss is sudden and unexpected, the pain & sadness is suffocating. Prayers for the Ward family.

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) August 10, 2014

MICHAEL WALTRIP (Sprint Cup team owner and part-time driver)

My thoughts and prayers are with the Ward family.

— Michael Waltrip (@mw55) August 10, 2014

ELLIOTT SADLER (Nationwide Series driver)

Heavy hearts in the racing world today.. Thoughts and prayers going out to Ward his family and friends..asking Him for strength for them..

— Elliott Sadler (@Elliott_Sadler) August 10, 2014

ERIC McCLURE (Nationwide Series driver)

As many opinions are formed regarding last night's events, the end remains a very sad situation. Prayers to Ward family, Tony & all involved

— Eric McClure (@ericmcclure) August 10, 2014

BEN KENNEDY (Camping World Truck Series driver)

Crazy turn of events last night thoughts and prayers to the Ward family.

— Ben Kennedy (@BenKennedy31) August 10, 2014

DANIEL SUAREZ (K&N Pro Series East/Toyota Mexico Series)

I woke up this morning with the bad news in the sprint car race last night…. thoughts and prayers for the Ward family.

— Daniel Suárez (@dnlsuarez) August 10, 2014

Meanwhile at the Glen, the No. 14 team is carrying on with their duties leading up to today’s green flag. About a half an hour ago, Jeff Gluck of USA Today shot this Vine of the scene in the SHR garage as they prepared for Smith’s arrival.

Here's a look at the scene around the No. 14 car. Media, fans being kept at a distance as team preps seat f… https://t.co/33pX88Evqk

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) August 10, 2014

ESPN has since shown video of Smith and team owner Rick Hendrick arriving at the track via helicopter shortly before Noon ET in its pre-race telecast.

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An IndyCar executive said there is “absolutely” disappointment that its long-awaited video game recently was delayed beyond its target date, but the series remains optimistic about the new title.

“Well, I don’t know how quick it will be, but the whole situation is important to us,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said during a news conference Monday morning to announce IndyCar’s NTT title sponsorship. “Motorsport Games has spent a lot of money, a lot of effort to create an IndyCar title. What we’ve seen of that effort, which is not completely obvious, is very reassuring.

“I think it’s going to be outstanding. That’s our shared objective, that when it is released, it’s just widely accepted. A great credit both to IndyCar racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, something that our fans love.”

In June 2021, IndyCar announced a new partnership with Motorsport Games to create and distribute an IndyCar video game for the PC and Xbox and PlayStation consoles in 2023.

But during an earnings call last week, Motorsport Games said the IndyCar game had been delayed to 2024 to ensure high quality.

Somewhat compounding the delay is that IndyCar’s license for iRacing expired after the end of the 2022 season because of its exclusive agreement with Motorsport Games.

That’s resulted in significant changes for IndyCar on iRacing, which had provided a high-profile way for the series to stay visible during its 2020 shutdown from the pandemic. (Players still can race an unbranded car but don’t race on current IndyCar tracks, nor can they stream).

That’s helped ratchet up the attention on having a video game outlet for IndyCar.

“I wish we had an IndyCar title 10 years ago,” said Miles, who has been working with the organization since 2013. “We’ve been close, but we’ve had these I think speed bumps.”

IndyCar is hopeful the Motorsports Game edition will be ready at the start of 2024. Miles hinted that beta versions could be unveiled to reporters ahead of the time “to begin to show the progress in a narrow way to make sure we’ve got it right, to test the progress so that we’re ready when they’re ready.”

It’s been nearly 18 years since the release of the most recent IndyCar video game for console or PC.

“(We) better get it right,” Miles said. “It’s something we’re very close to and continue to think about what it is to make sure we get it over the line in due course.”