Tony Stewart collides with and kills a driver during a sprint car race. According to Ontario County (N.Y.) Sheriff Philip C. Povero, Kevin Ward Jr., a 20-year-old racing car driver, was murdered Saturday night after being struck on the track by NASCAR icon Tony Stewart. The accident occurred with five laps remaining in the dirt race, known as the World 100 Mile Desert Race. It was held at the all-weather Ontario (N.Y.) Speedway. Kevin Ward Jr. was a resident of Owego, New York, and he is believed to have been the first winner of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series to be killed while practicing for an upcoming race. He is also the first driver killed during a sprint car race in North America. "It's a tragedy. We're all shocked and saddened by this," said Bill Wicksteed, president of Ontario County (N.Y.) Sheriff's Department. "But at the end of the day, these things happen on the tracks all the time. There's no reason for people to come out here expecting something bad to happen." Ward had been racing for more than a year without incident and had just won his first race earlier this month. His family issued a statement saying they were thankful for all of the support they had received following his death. "We want to thank everyone for their prayers and thoughts during this difficult time," it read.