Kevin Ward Jr.'s family speaks about fatal Tony Stewart crash

Brant James | USA TODAY Sports

The family of a 20-year-old struck and killed by Tony Stewart in a 2014 sprint car race said Friday during an interview on Good Morning America that their recently filed wrongful death suit was their last chance to hold the NASCAR driver "accountable" and achieve "justice" after the death of their son.

Kevin Ward Jr. was killed Aug. 9, 2014 during an Empire Super Sprints race at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park when he exited his car under caution after an incident with Tony Stewart. Ward Jr. was struck by Stewart as he walked down the track in a confrontational manner toward Stewart.

Pamela and Kevin Ward Sr. said they do not believe Stewart intentionally struck their son. His mother said she believes Stewart lost his temper.

His father said "there's no doubt (Stewart) knew what he was doing," and reasserted their belief that Stewart revved his engine and swerved up the track after other competitors veered low.

"I wish he wouldn't have gotten out of the car, more than anybody," Pamela Ward said. "But I also acknowledge the fact that if Tony would have stayed low on the track and not gunned his engine and headed for my son, my son would still be here."

The family filed a wrongful death suit in New York last Friday seeking unspecified punitive damages. A press release issued by the family's attorney -- Mark Lanier of Lanier Law Firm -- said they would have no further comment during the process, but Lanier sat for the interview with ABC affiliate WSYR-TV in Syracuse.

Stewart was exonerated of criminal wrongdoing when a New York grand jury declined to indict him. A toxicology report revealed in an Ontario (N.Y.) County district attorney's finding asserted that Ward Jr.'s judgment was impaired at the time of the accident by marijuana use,

"I do not believe my son was impaired," his mother said.

The GMA report described the amount of marijuana in Ward Jr.’s blood as a “trace,” but district attorney R. Michael Tantillo told USA TODAY Sports on Friday, “the forensic chemist who analyzed Mr. Ward’s blood concluded that, and advised me that, the levels and metabolites found present in his blood indicated relatively recent usage, at a level that would have impaired his judgment.”

The Ward suit seeks damages stemming from their son's potential future earnings and suffering at the time of the accident.

Follow James on Twitter @brantjames

PHOTOS: Tony Stewart through the years