Dirt-track crash involving NASCAR’s Tony Stewart leaves fellow driver dead

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — A 20-year-old dirt-track race car driver died Saturday night after a crash involving NASCAR driver Tony Stewart.

Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero said his office is not investigating the incident as a criminal matter. He said Stewart, 42, was “‘fully cooperative” while being questioned and released.

Michael Messerly, a fan who witnessed the crash at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, said it appeared Stewart — racing there on the eve of a NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen — hit a driver who was walking on the dimly lit track after they had collided on the previous lap. A video of the incident that was briefly uploaded to YouTube.com showed the other driver on foot attempting to confront Stewart after the crash.

The driver who was struck and killed was widely reported as 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr. The Sheriff’s Department did not immediately identify the victim during its…