DETROIT – It would have been about the blistering speeds ... or Jimmie Johnson looking for the sweep.

Even favorite NASCAR son Dale Earnhardt Jr., headed to the Irish Hills leading the Sprint Cup Series points’ standings, isn’t the story now, and that’s unbelievable and, in this case, sad and tortuous.

Instead, Tony Stewart, a three-time Cup champion, who will not race at Michigan International Speedway this weekend, will be the focus Friday through Sunday of a media swarm surrounding the death of driver Kevin Ward Jr.

Stewart, the iconic and often combative 43-year-old driver/team owner, struck Ward, 20, on Saturday night with his sprint car during a yellow flag at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in upstate New York.

Ward, who walked down the track to remonstrate after he and Stewart had collided earlier to bring out the caution, died as a result of the contact, which some say Stewart could have avoided.

Jeff Burton, who has 21 career Cup wins, will drive in Stewart’s stead.