Just days after a New York grand jury declined to press charges against Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick were among those who reacted Friday at Dover.
When Kevin Harvick heard a New York grand jury would not be charging Tony Stewart for his involvement in the death of Kevin Ward Jr., he was relieved.
As well as a member of Stewart-Haas Racing, the NASCAR team Stewart co-owns, Harvick is also a close friend of Stewart's. And Harvick had seen firsthand how Ward's death, and the uncertainty of whether charges would be brought, weighed on Stewart.
"You worry about your friend and the circumstances that are surrounding him and how things could be dictated for the rest of his life,'' Harvick said Friday at Dover International Speedway. "Just being around and knowing how much it's weighed on him.
"I'm happy for my friend. ... I'm overjoyed in obviously a devastating situation, but I'm just happy that it is to a point where everybody knows what is happening in the future and can start the process of trying to deal with it and move on into some sort of normalcy."
An Ontario County grand jury determined substantial evidence did not exist not to charge Stewart Wednesday. Stewart's sprint car struck and killed an on-foot Ward during an Aug. 9 race at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park.
Stewart immediately secluded himself, sitting out three consecutive Sprint Cup races. Maintaining throughout that he didn't intend to hit Ward, who was upset with Stewart and walking toward the bottom of the track while cars circled, Stewart fell into a depression.
In an interview with The Associated Press Friday, Stewart said he continually replayed the events in his head and "couldn't function." Usually jovial and sardonic, Stewart became sullen and withdrawn.
And when he did return to competition Labor Day weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, fellow drivers noticed how the accident affected Stewart.
"Just having known him for all these years, you can imagine that he is going through something super emotional and overwhelming by a huge measure," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. "There is sort of a sickness or something in the pit of your stomach for what Tony is going through, but at the same time you never really forget that somebody was killed.
"There is a family with a hole in their heart, and they have got to figure out a way to live out the rest of their lives with this always on their mind. It will have a huge effect on both sides for so many years. It's just ... unfortunate."
Following Wednesday's decision by the grand jury to absolve Stewart of any wrongdoing, District Attorney Michael Tantillo revealed Ward was under the influence of marijuana at the time of his death. Although Tantillo wouldn't disclose the toxicology levels in Ward's system, it was enough to "impair judgment."
"First and foremost, I just don't want to ignore the fact that it was a massive tragedy that took place," Jimmie Johnson said, "[but] the toxicology report is shocking to see."
In the weeks since Ward's death, Johnson has taken exception that people have "formed sides" and assigned blame to one party or the other. He hopes with the grand jury's conclusion, some semblance of healing can begin.
"From a friend perspective and worrying about Tony and understanding what he's gone through and how tough this has been on him, I'm sure there is some type of relief that it's kind of done, in that respect," Johnson said. "But at the same time, coming back to the Ward family, I'm sure he feels OK about not having this go any further and there being legal actions.
"It's just been a terrible accident and we need to pay respect to Kevin Ward Jr. I don't know how you go on, but just move forward."