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TURIN, N.Y. -- Kevin Ward Jr.s friends, family and fellow racing enthusiasts overflowed a high school auditorium Thursday to grieve and share stories about the 20-year-old dirt-track racer whose car was hit by one driven by NASCAR champion Tony Stewart. With Ward lying in an open casket decorated with racing flags and piled with orange flowers, his familys team colours, mourners shed tears and laughed at favourite stories about the boy who began racing when he was barely more than a toddler. The 90-minute service was held at the South Lewis Senior High School auditorium to accommodate crowds of people from the close-knit central New York racing community. "Even if he had rough day, he always had a smile," a tearful Dylan Swiernick said of his best friend and car-obsessed buddy. "We were just two small-town boys trying to make it in the big world. He was always working on something. It was unbelievable how smart he was. He never got down on himself when things werent going his way." Ward, a 2012 South Lewis graduate, was buried in his nearby hometown of Port Leyden, 55 miles from Syracuse. "He was an amazing sprint car driver and had a family like no other," his cousin, Amanda Ward, said in a eulogy. "We used to tell him before every race, Drive it like you stole it. He never let us down." His sister, Kayla Herring, said the orange and white lapel ribbons worn by family and friends were to signify that the team colours would remain bright, even in the darkest times. There was barely a dry eye in the auditorium as a recording of the Dixie Chicks singing "Godspeed, little man, sweet dreams, little man," was played at the request of Wards mother. After the service, as Wards casket was taken to the hearse for the short trip to the cemetery, mourners let loose helium balloons in orange, white and black. Ward died Saturday night at a track 140 miles away in Canandaigua, where Stewart was riding a day before the Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen. The accident touched off debates as video of the crash circulated online, with fans questioning whether Stewart, known for his hot temper, tried to send his own message by buzzing Ward, or whether Ward recklessly stepped onto a dark track clad in black. Stewart was racing a day before the Sprint Cup event at Watkins Glen. After a bump from Stewart sent Wards winged car spinning into the wall, the young driver climbed out and walked onto the track in his black firesuit, gesturing angrily. Stewarts No. 14 car seemed to fishtail, and Ward was thrown through the air as his parents and fans watched in horror. No charges have been filed, but Ontario County Sheriffs deputies are still investigating. Ward grew up in a racing family and started racing go-carts at age 4. He moved on to sprint cars and was Empire Super Sprint racing rookie of the year in 2012. He was one of a small, tight group of drivers that travelled to various races around New York state, parts of Canada and Pennsylvania. Racing and working on cars in his fathers shop, Westward Painting Co. of Lyons Falls, were his "double love," Wards father told the Post-Standard of Syracuse this week. "His goal was ... the World of Outlaws," the top level for sprint cars, Ward said. Cheap Vikings Gear . - The Green Bay Packers got back to work on Friday without star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Adrian Peterson Jersey . Giants manager Bruce Bochy told The Associated Press of the decision before NL West-leading San Francisco opened a 10-game homestand Monday night with the first of three games against second-place Arizona. http://www.vikingsauthenticshop.com/Vikings-Latavius-Murray-Draft-Jersey/. Orlando is to begin play in the MLS for the 2015 season. Kaka, who currently plays with AC Milan, is expected to be loaned out to his home club Sao Paulo for the upcoming season before joining Orlando for next season. Harrison Smith Jersey .Y. - The Philadelphia Eagles game at Green Bay against the Packers on Nov. Marcus Sherels Jersey . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Steve Mason, Philadelphia (4) - Mason was brilliant all night long with save after big save on Benoit Pouliot, Carl Hagelin and Derick Brassard.CALGARY -- Brad Trelivings first major move as new Calgary Flames general manager was to beef up the front office. He named former Flame forward Craig Conroy and former Hockey Canada executive Brad Pascall as his new assistant general managers Friday. Conroy and Pascall join Mike Holditch, who has held that title since 2010. "Having depth, having manpower, allows us to see more and do more," Treliving said at Scotiabank Saddledome. "Everything we do here when we look at adding staff and we look at adding people, this is all about building and this is about winning. "To me, you need to build your foundation off the ice before you can ever think of having success on the ice." Treliving, 44, was revealed as the Flames new GM on April 28. The Flames were grooming Conroy for the managerial ranks before Trelivings arrival. Conroy went to work immediately as a special assistant to former GM Jay Feaster after retiring in 2011. Conroys apprenticeship accelerated in December when president of hockey operations Brian Burke fired Feaster. Conroy had more responsibilities in the four months Burke searched for a replacement before deciding on Treliving. "All of a sudden, everyone had more to do," Conroy said. "Now you can really focus in on an area and really nail down what were going to do moving forward." The 42-year-old from Potsdam, N.Y., played 1,009 NHL regular-season games, just over half of them with the Flames. He also played for the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues. Pascall worked for Hockey Canada for almost two decades in different roles. He was most recently vice-president of hockey operationns for the last four years.dddddddddddd He was part of the management groups that assembled the victorious Canadian mens hockey teams for the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics. "I think the evolution of my experience of being involved with various championship teams and building an organization there from a high-performance structure, I think it was always an aspiration of mine to one day move onto the National Hockey League," Pascall said. The 43-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C., was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 1990 and played four years of minor pro hockey. His wife is Cassie Campbell-Pascall, who led the Canadian womens hockey team to Olympic gold in 2002 and 2006 as team captain. Holditchs area of expertise is salary cap and contracts. Pascall will oversee Calgarys American Hockey League team which is moving to Glens Falls, N.Y., next season from Abbotsford, B.C. Conroy will spend the most time of the road of the three, Treliving said, watching NHL and minor pro games in order to help with player decisions. "I think you ought to be careful that youre not tripping over people, but the way I look at it is you get the right people on the bus, you get winners on the bus, well figure out all the rest," Treliving said. "The game is becoming bigger each day, becoming more competitive each day, so the question we ask every morning when we roll out of bed is how do we win? How do we win and how do we get better? We got better today. Well keep all three of these guys busy." Calgary missed the playoffs for a fifth straight season with a record of 35-40-7. The Flames own the fourth overall pick in the NHL entry draft June 27-28. 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