Kevin Ward Jr.’s father speaks out, questions Tony Stewart

By Aug 13, 2014, 11:58 AM EDT
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Kevin Ward Sr. has given a public interview following his 20-year-old son, Kevin Jr.’s, passing on Saturday night.

Ward Sr. spoke to Syracuse.com, and asked how Tony Stewart could have been, in his eyes, the only car that did not see Kevin Jr. on track after he’d gotten out of his car.

“Apparently, Tony Stewart was the only one driving out there who didn’t see him,” Ward Sr. said.

He added the reason, in his mind, Kevin Jr. got out of the car was in retaliation for the contact between Ward Jr. and Stewart.

“I think the reason he probably got out of that car is who put him into the wall. He was definitely put into the wall,” Ward Sr. said.

[ MORE: Sheriff says Stewart/Ward investigation may continue for “two weeks or more” ]

Ward Sr. also questioned when or if Stewart will speak publicly beyond the statement his team of representatives issued Sunday.

“The one person that knows what happened that night is possibly facing 10 years in prison. Is he going to say what he done?” Ward Sr. asked.

Although both Ward Sr. and wife Pamela were at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park Saturday night, per the report, Ward Sr. did not see the contact itself. Track officials did not let them on the track until an extended time passed, and reportedly, they watched as CPR efforts were attempted but failed.

[ MORE: Dan Patrick on Tony Stewart: “I want to know that it bothers him (VIDEO) ]

Ward Jr. died in hospital, not at the track.

Ward Sr. remembered and reflected his son’s passion for racing as he grew up, while also recalling on the work his son did with his company, Westward Painting Co.

“His heart, I don’t know how he fit it in his chest,” Ward Sr. said.

IndyCar disappointed by delay of video game but aiming to launch at start of 2024

By Mar 27, 2023, 3:00 PM EDT
IndyCar video game 2024
IndyCar
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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.”