NASCAR

Tony Stewart could have avoided striking and killing Kevin Ward Jr. but instead chose to terrorize Ward by driving recklessly... so claims Ward's parents, who have filed a wrongful death suit.

The parents say Stewart had complete disregard for Kevin's life a year ago when his race car struck and killed the 20-year-old.

The lawsuit claims Stewart gunned his 700 HP car as he drove by Ward. Stewart's car slid and struck Ward with the rear tire, hurling him 25 feet. The suit claims Stewart gunned the engine to "terrorize" Ward.

There were rumors of beef between the two, which fueled speculation Stewart intentionally plowed into Ward with his car when he ran onto the track ... something he denies.

Stewart was cleared of criminal charges. Authorities also say Ward was high on weed when he got out of his car.

Ward's family still believes the death was avoidable and they want to take it to a civil jury.

Reps for Stewart have no comment.

For NASCAR star Brad Keselowski ... getting devoured by fake flying sharks is way harder than driving into a corner at 180 mph -- cause he told us his "Sharknado 3" cameo was actually a bitch to shoot.

The former Sprint Cup champ joined us on "TMZ Hollywood Sports" to talk about his epic death scene in the latest 'Sharknado' flick ... and dropped a bombshell.

Brad says it took him 40 to 50 takes to get it right, even though the scene is less than 10 seconds long! It's not what you think -- BK says he has acting experience. He just doesn't have "Sharknado" acting experience, and it's a totally different beast.

Danica Patrick's become a devout follower of yoga ... and she's making us devout fans of her following yoga.

Brad Keselowski's played the role of NASCAR champion, and even NASCAR villain -- but his greatest role yet will be ... shark food.

Yes, the former Sprint Cup champ's got a meaty role in tonight's premiere of "Sharknado 3" ... and he's very proud of the work he put into what he calls, "a story that had to be told."

BK gave his fans a behind the scenes look with this video -- and even got co-star Ian Ziering and famed Thespian David Spade to co-sign on his performance. It's pretty hysterical.

And watch for the scene stealer in this clip ... Brad's teammate Joey Logano.

Here's NASCAR racer Danica Patrick showing off her insanely toned physique.

FYI -- Patrick's super into yoga ... and is constantly posting pics of herself doing various poses when she's not not winning races.

Clearly, it does a body good.

NASCAR is reminding everyone where it stands in the raging debate over the Confederate flag ... saying it BANNED the controversial symbol a long time ago ... and ain't nothing changed.

The debate over the flag has intensified ever since South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley vowed to have the flag removed from the statehouse in the wake of the tragic racial attack in the state last week.

NASCAR -- headquartered next door in North Carolina -- released a statement today, commending the governor and reminding the world ... they dissed the flag a long time ago.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is taking the ultimate checkered flag ... he's getting married!

NASCAR's most popular driver proposed to longtime girlfriend Amy Reimann while vacationing Wednesday in Germany. Reimann posted a pic -- naturally flashing her engagement rock -- in a Lutheran church Dale says his family attended 300 years ago.

Reimann and Earnhardt have been dating since 2009 ... and you gotta figure she knew the question was coming sooner than later. Dale gave her a shout out in a commercial he shot last year.

You don't mention a run-of-the-mill GF in an ad you know will air constantly during NASCAR races.

How do you make NASCAR even whiter than it already is???

Just watch this video of Jeff Gordon rapping with a 7-year-old kid.

Patrick Dempsey is making serious strides on the racing circuit -- not only impressing other drivers ... but already racking up a solid bunch of race groupies ... so says NASCAR legend Michael Waltrip.

The former "Grey's Anatomy" star recently left the show -- and has been making a serious effort to climb the ranks in the world of pro race car driving.

And apparently, his efforts are not going unnoticed -- with Waltrip telling us McDreamy has a strong legion of female fans who can't get enough of him at the track.

Dan Bilzerian is new face of NASCAR ... well, at least for one race ... 'cause the billionaire playboy's grill will be on the front hood of a car competing in Saturday's Sprint Cup Race ... TMZ Sports has learned.

So, how the hell did he make that happen? Dan's a huge poker player --and he recently beat the snot out of BK Racing owner Ron Devine.

But instead of forcing Ron to pay up in cash, Dan wanted to go all Ricky Bobby ... so he made a deal to get his mug plastered on one of Ron's NASCAR whips, which will be competing at Richmond International Speedway.

The final product is hilarious ... with Dan's giant bearded face right on the front of Matt DiBenedetto's #83 car. He also added a sticker of Dan's pet goat Zeus to the rear for good measure.

Baaaaaaad ass.

#GoatJoke

FOX Sports announcer Steve Byrnes died Tuesday of cancer ... just 2 days after NASCAR fans, drivers and crew members paid him an emotional track side tribute.

Byrnes -- one of FOX's leading reporters for its NASCAR coverage -- was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in August of 2013. He was forced to take an indefinite leave from the job last year in October.

FOX and NASCAR teamed with Stand Up to Cancer to dedicate Sunday's race at Bristol Motor Speedway to Steve. Before the race people in the stands ... and crew members on pit road held up signs with Steve's name.

Steve watched the race on TV, and afterward tweeted his thanks for the show of love and support.

Byrnes is survived by his wife Karen and their 12-year-old son Bryson. He was 56.

It's been 25 years since Cole Trickle punked Russ Wheeler and took the Daytona 500 ... but according to Jeff Gordon, it's time to get his ass back on the track ... in a "Days of Thunder" sequel!

FYI -- after the movie came out in 1990, there were rumors that Cole was loosely based on Gordon (even though it was really based on the late NASCAR driver Tim Richmond).

So, when we saw Gordon out in D.C. today -- we had to ask how he felt about a possible remake ... and JG was all about it.

Unfortunately, there aren't any plans for a "Part 2" yet ... but Cruise is reportedly signed on to star in another racing movie called "Go Like Hell."

"Chicks love the car"
-- Batman (1995)

NASCAR superstar Joey Logano was channeling his inner-Bruce Wayne out in Los Angeles Tuesday -- cruising around the City of Angels in a Batmobile.

And not just any Batmobile ... the good one from the Michael Keaton era.

Turns out, Logano was hangin' with Vegas mega-comic Jeff Dunham (the ventriloquist) ... who owns the car and wanted to take Joey out for a spin.

But like any other whip, the Batmobile requires gas ... so they stopped at a Shell station and filled up ... 91 of course.

Kurt Busch will be back on the track this weekend -- 6 days after criminal domestic violence charges were dropped ... NASCAR has reinstated the suspended driver.

Busch toed the line following his suspension -- complying with all of NASCAR's requests, including participating in an anger management program ... according to NASCAR.

As we previously reported, NASCAR took Busch out of his #41 car indefinitely when his ex-GF Patricia Driscoll got a restraining order against him ... based on Busch allegedly attacking her last fall after a race in Dover. Busch is appealing the restraining order.

But since then ... prosecutors decided there wasn't enough evidence to file criminal charges against Busch.

NASCAR says Busch will remain under "indefinite probation."

After the decision, Driscoll released a statement saying, "Even though Kurt remains on indefinite probation under this decision, I’m deeply concerned about the message NASCAR is sending by letting him compete for the championship after he was found by a judge to have committed an act of domestic violence.

She continued, "But I am gratified, at least, that NASCAR’s decision comes with the mandatory condition that he follow through on the treatment he so clearly needs."

10:47 AM PT -- Busch's ex-GF also issued a statement saying she's "disappointed that full justice was not served here."

10:30 AM PT -- Busch just issued a statement saying, "I am grateful that the prosecutors in Delaware listened, carefully considered the evidence, and after a thorough investigation decided to not file criminal charges against me."

He continued, "As I have said from the beginning, I did not commit domestic abuse. I look forward to being back in racing as soon as possible and moving on with my life."

Prosecutors have decided they will NOT pursue criminal charges against NASCAR driver Kurt Busch over an alleged domestic violence incident ... claiming there's just not enough proof.

Busch was accused of slamming his ex-GF's head against the wall of his trailer during an altercation in Dover, Delaware back in September.

But a rep for the Delaware Attorney General's Office says ... after a thorough investigation, "the admissible evidence and available witnesses would likely be insufficient to meet the burden of establishing beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Busch committed a crime."

NASCAR driver Travis Kvapil's #44 ride was jacked from a hotel parking lot -- and TMZ Sports obtained surveillance video of the heist.

The car and the truck that hauls it were both stolen out of the Drury Inn parking lot outside Atlanta -- and in the video you can see a Jeep SUV pull into the lot. One person dressed in black gets out of the Jeep, walks across the lot toward the transport trailer ... and the Jeep pulls away.

Next thing you see is the white transport trailer ... hauled by a black pickup truck ... tearing across the lot. Law enforcement sources tell us the GTA went down around 5 AM Friday -- and took less than a minute. So far cops have no leads on the suspects, but they're hoping this video will shed some light.

Kvapil's team was forced to pull out of this weekend's Sprint Cup race in Atlanta. It's a small independent team, and they don't have a backup car.

Team owner John Cohen tells TMZ Sports ... "Last night I was thinking, I should tell them to block the truck off [with another vehicle]. But I didn't say anything, and it got stolen." He says he doesn't think the crooks even knew what they were stealing since there are no identifying marks on the trailer.

He adds ... "I'm hoping they return it once they see what's inside. What can they do with a racecar?"

A Sprint Cup series car is worth about $250,000.