NASCAR reacts to death of Kevin Ward Jr. in Tony Stewart accident

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NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Tony Stewart smiles during qualifying at Phoenix International Raceway on March 13, 2015. (Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)

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Tony Stewart sits in his car during a NASCAR Sprint Cup practice session at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana in March 2013. (Jonathan Ferrey / Getty Images)

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NASCAR driver Tony Stewart climbs into his car during a practice session at Pocono Raceway on Aug. 1. Stewart hasn’t raced since being involved in a fatal accident during a dirt track race in New York on Aug. 9. (Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)

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Tony Stewart walks through the garage area at Kentucky Speedway during a NASCAR Sprint Cup practice session on June 27. (Sean Gardner / Getty Images)

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Greg Zipadelli, Stewart-Haas Racing vice president of competition, announces during a news conference Aug. 10 that Tony Stewart will not race at Watkins Glen after being involved in an accident that killed dirt track racer Kevin Ward Jr. in New York the day before. (Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)

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Flowers rest next to the front entrance of Canandaigua Motorsports Park on Aug. 10, the day after sprint car racer Kevin Ward Jr. died at the track after he was struck by a car driven by three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart. (Jared Wickerham / Getty Images)

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Tony Stewart smiles while standing in the garage during a NASCAR Sprint Cup at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 8, 2014. Stewart has won three NASCAR titles since joining the racing series full-time in 1999. (Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)

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Tony Stewart looks on after capturing pole position for the 1996 Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Tom Russo / Associated Press)

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Tony Stewart walks down pit road during a practice session for the 1998 Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Michael Conroy / Associated Press)

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Tony Stewart climbs out his car during qualifying for the 2000 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Michael Conroy / Associated Press)

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NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, right, speaks with team owner Joe Gibbs while in the garage at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 11, 2000. (Peter Cosgrove / Associated Press)

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Tony Stewart in his car during a practice session at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October 2002. (Rusty Burroughs / Associated Press)

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Tony Stewart walks through the garage area at New Hampshire International Speedway on Sept. 13, 2002. (Sandy Macys / Associated Press)

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Tony Stewart puts on his helmet while sitting in his car prior to a NASCAR Nextel Cup practice session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 10, 2007. (Rusty Jarrett / Getty Images for NASCAR)

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Tony Stewart jokes with his crew in pit lane before a NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Feb. 25, 2007. (Mark Avery / Associated Press)

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Tony Stewart kisses the yard of bricks on the start/finish line after winning the 2005 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Tom Strattman / Associated Press)

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Tony Stewart celebrates after winning a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway in October 2009. (Orlin Wagner / Associated Press)

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Tony Stewart celebrates after winning a rain-shortened NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on March 25, 2012. (Nigel Kinrade / Associated Press)

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Danica Patrick, left, and Tony Stewart ride down pit road before the start of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway in June. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

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Tony Stewart sits in his car before a race at Texas Motor Speedway on April 7. Stewart did not run in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. (Ralph Lauer / Associated Press)

By John CherwaSpecial Contributor

Aug. 10, 2014 9:15 AM PT

Reaction to the death of Kevin Ward Jr. was predictable and heartfelt as NASCAR starts to figure out how to deal with this tragic situation.

Ward was struck by a sprint car driven by NASCAR superstar Tony Stewart on Saturday night at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in New York. Ward was pronounced dead at the hospital later in the night.

Stewart originally said he would race Sunday at Watkins Glen International Raceway in New York but had a change of heart overnight and withdrew from the race. NASCAR allowed the Stewart-Haas Racing team to substitute driver Regan Smith in his place.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and fellow competitors of Kevin Ward, Jr.,” NASCAR said in a statement. “We support Tony Stewart’s decision to miss today’s race and we will continue to respect the process and timeline of the local authorities and will continue to monitor the situation going forward.”

Brett Jewkes, NASCAR director of communications, issued a similar thought over Twitter.

“Thoughts & prayers for all impacted by accident in NY last night, especially family of Kevin Ward, Jr. Heartbreaking for everyone,” Jewkes wrote.

A couple of the sports’ biggest names also weighed in via Twitter.

“We will all loose someone in our time,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. wrote. “When a loss is sudden and unexpected, the pain & sadness is suffocating. Prayers for the Ward family.”

Jimmie Johnson said this: “Racing with a heavy heart today... Thoughts and prayers for the Ward family.”

Sunday’s Sprint Cup was scheduled for 10 a.m. Pacific time.

LATEST UPDATES: Tony Stewart will not race Sunday