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Stewart Returns

Tony Stewart will return to the driver’s seat of the #14 Chevrolet at Atlanta Motor Speedway.  [Father Dale Grubba photo]

 

Tony Stewart has decided to return to racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend and compete in Sunday night’s Oral-B USA 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, GA.

Stewart’s return to the track will be the first since he was involved in a tragic accident during a sprint car race on August 9th at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park in New York state where Kevin Ward Jr. lost his life.

Stewart missed the last three events at Watkins Glen, Michigan International Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway.

At 1 p.m. EDT on Friday in the infield media center at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Stewart will be available to the press, where he will be joined by Stewart-Haas Racing executive vice president Brett Frood.

With a win this weekend at Atlanta or in next week’s race at Richmond, Stewart could qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup pending a decision by NASCAR if missing the previous three races would disqualify him from Chase eligibility.

NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer, Steve O’Donnell made the following statement:  “Tony Stewart has received all necessary clearances required to return to all racing activities, and therefore is eligible to compete this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. NASCAR has remained in constant contact with his race team, and we will stay very close to this situation as Stewart returns to competition.”

It was also announced that NASCAR President Mike Helton will participate in a media availability in the Atlanta Motor Speedway media center on Friday at 2 p.m. ET and that NASCAR will have no further comment until that time.
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