Kevin Ward Jr., former Sprint car driver, was laid to rest Thursday in Turin, New York, five days after he was killed when fellow race car driver and former NASCAR champion Tony Stewart struck him, throwing him away a feet, and killing him on the speedway.

The auditorium in South Lewis Central High School filled out way over its 550 person capacity. As much 700 mourners came to say farewell to the 20-year-old racer.

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Folding chairs were placed in the aisles to accommodate other people who came attended the 90-minute service.

Ward came in an open casket piled with orange flowers, a tribute to his team colors.

Several of the people closest to him addressed the crowd, regaling with stories and experiences they shared.

"Even if he had a rough day, he always had a smile," said his best friend Dylan Swiernick.

"We were just two small-town boys trying to make it in the big world," he continued. "He was always working on something. It was unbelievable how smart he was. He never got down on himself when things weren't going his way."

Ward's cousin, Amanda, added that he was an amazing car driver and had an incomparable famly. "We used to tell him before every race, 'Drive it like you stole it.' He never let us down."

At the end of the service, they release orange balloons. His friends honked their horns as a tribute to his passing.

Reverend Kevin Westcott officiated the service.

Of Ward's spirit, he said that, "Kevin ran every race with everything he had. Today, I want to say, 'Well done, Kevin.' He finished well, he won his race.

Ward died last Saturday night at a race in Canandaigua. Former NASCAR champion, Tony Stewart, first collided with Ward's car, sending his car spinning into a wall and stopping. Seconds later, after Stewart circled, his car was seen running into Ward who was by then out of his disabled car and gesturing toward Stewart. Ward's body was thrown flying through the air.

While no charges have been filed, the Ontario County Sheriff's deputies are still investigating the matter.

TagsKevin Ward Jr., nascar, Tony Stewart