Ward Family Slaps Tony Stewart and Canandaigua Motorsports with Explosive Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Allegations of Criminal Negligence and Manslaughter Resurface
Canandaigua, NY – In a stunning turn of events nearly a decade after the tragic incident that shook the motorsports world, the family of the late Kevin Ward Jr. has reignited legal proceedings against NASCAR legend Tony Stewart and Canandaigua Motorsports Park. The newly filed lawsuit levels powerful accusations of wrongful death, criminal negligence, and even manslaughter against Stewart and the venue, alleging systemic failures that contributed to the 20-year-old driver’s death.
On the night of August 9, 2014, during a local sprint car event in upstate New York, Ward was struck and killed by Stewart’s car after exiting his own vehicle on the dirt track. The incident occurred moments after an on-track collision between the two drivers, which sent Ward’s car into the wall. In a move that has remained controversial, Ward emerged from his car and approached Stewart’s vehicle on foot during a caution lap—moments later, he was fatally hit.
Though a grand jury declined to press criminal charges against Stewart at the time, citing lack of intent and evidence that Ward had cannabis in his system, the Ward family’s new lawsuit claims that the original investigation ignored key factors. The family now contends that Tony Stewart acted with “reckless disregard for human life” and that Canandaigua Motorsports Park “failed to uphold even the most basic safety protocols” the night of the incident.
“This is not just about Kevin—it’s about accountability,” said a spokesperson for the Ward family in a press conference announcing the renewed case. “When a young man dies in front of thousands of fans under the wheels of a multimillionaire racer, the system owes us more than silence and shrugged shoulders.”
The suit paints a damning picture, accusing Stewart of accelerating into Ward rather than slowing, despite visible awareness of the young man’s position on the track. It also criticizes race organizers for a lack of proper caution procedures, poor lighting, and ineffective communication systems that may have left Stewart unaware—or unable to react—in time.
Attorneys for Stewart have dismissed the suit as “a baseless rehash of resolved tragedy,” insisting their client has already been cleared of wrongdoing by both the justice system and NASCAR’s internal review. “Tony Stewart did not act with malice or negligence,” read a statement from Stewart’s legal team. “This filing is a misguided attempt to assign blame where none exists.”
Legal experts suggest the suit may face steep hurdles due to the prior grand jury decision and the 2018 confidential settlement reached between Stewart and the Ward family, which was presumed to bring the legal saga to a close. However, the family’s lawyers argue that newly uncovered evidence and “undue influence” during earlier investigations justify reopening the case.
The motorsports community has responded with mixed emotions. While some fans and drivers defend Stewart as a veteran who faced a tragic accident beyond his control, others call for a deeper reckoning within grassroots racing regarding safety, accountability, and how stars are treated under the law.
Whether the court accepts the case remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the death of Kevin Ward Jr. continues to cast a long shadow over Tony Stewart’s legacy and the track where it all unfolded.