(Reuters) – NASCAR champion Tony Stewart canceled plans to race on Sunday hours after being involved in an accident at a dirt track in New York state where a driver was killed, a member of his team said.
“He feels strongly this is the right thing to do,” Greg Zipadelli, vice president of competition at Stewart-Haas Racing, told a televised news conference.
Stewart, one of the biggest names on the NASCAR circuit, was involved in the incident on Saturday night at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park, about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Rochester, according the Ontario County Sheriff’s Department.
More than halfway into a 25-lap race, one car lost control and spun out, stopping at a retaining wall, authorities said. The driver got out of the car and walked onto the race track, where he was struck by Stewart’s car.
The victim, Kevin Ward, Jr., was pronounced dead after being taken to a local hospital, according to sheriff’s officials.
Stewart, 43, has been cooperating with the investigation.
Earlier on Sunday, many NASCAR fans had expressed outrage on social media over reports that Stewart was planning to compete in Sunday’s NASCAR race at the Watkins Glen International track in central New York state.
“It’s an emotional time right now,” said Zipadelli of Stewart-Haas Racing, the team that Stewart co-owns, adding that Stewart’s car would be driven by Regan Smith.
Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series event begins at 1 p.m. U.S. eastern time.
