NASCAR driver Tony Stewart spoke to the media on Friday for the first time since Kevin Ward's death. Stewart, who will race over the weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, called Ward's death "one of the toughest tragedies I've ever had to deal with."
Stewart appeared before the media for the first time since his car struck and killed Ward on Aug. 9.
"This has been one of the toughest tragedies I've ever had to deal with, both professionally and personally," Stewart said during the press conference on Friday, via ESPN. "This is something that will definitely affect my life forever. This is a sadness and a pain that I hope no one has to experience in their life. That being said, I know that the pain and the mourning that Kevin Ward's family and friends are experiencing is something that I can't possibly imagine."
He also named each member of the 20-year-old's family and said, "Every day I'm thinking about them."
Stewart, who withdrew from three races out of respect for the Ward family, added: "Being back in the car this week with my racing family will help me get through this difficult time."
Ward died after Stewart's car struck him during a sprint car race in New York. Ward, who had gotten out of his wrecked car and appeared to be yelling at Stewart, was pronounced dead at a local area hospital.
The investigation into Ward's death is ongoing, although it appears Stewart won't face any criminal charges.
"For Tony, it's all about the healing process, and that's why he's in the car," said Stewart-Haas vice president Brett Frood. "... He's very emotional. It's been a difficult two weeks. But Tony is ready to be in the race car. He wouldn't be here if he wasn't."
Stewart plans to meet with the Ward family when the time is appropriate, according to Frood.
The Oral-B USA 500 is on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
