Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart reflect on tragedy at Fort Hood
A Texas Motor Speedway worker paints "God Bless Our Fort Hood Troops" on the tri-oval grass. // Mark Sluder, NASCAR Scene
FORT WORTH, Texas – Ryan Newman has clearly embraced the U.S. Army’s sponsorship of his Stewart-Haas Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup team this season. So he and team co-owner Tony Stewart took time Friday to say their thoughts were with the victims of a shooting at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas.
The shooting, in which 13 were reportedly killed, occurred Thursday.
Friday at Texas Motor Speedway, Newman talked about what having the Army sponsorship had meant to him this season – and his thoughts on the tragedy.
“I kind of took for granted some of the things the armed forces have done for us and are doing for us,” he said of things he has learned working with the sponsor. “This has been an eye-opening experience this year with the U.S. Army, meeting different generals and colonels and soldiers, it's been special.
“What happened, unfortunately to me it's a part of life. It's happened before; it will happen again. Whether it's in the U.S. Army, in a convenience store, it's a part of life. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families.”
Stewart echoed those sentiments.
“The bad part is, we focus more on the negatives that happen in society than we do on the positives, but obviously that was something that nobody would have dreamed would have happened. But it did,” Stewart said. “You're thinking about all the families and people that are involved and wish them the best."
