#14-Tony Stewart has decided to return to racing this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. The Aug. 31 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the 1.54-mile oval will mark Stewart’s first start since Aug. 3 at Pocono. Stewart sat out the past three races at Watkins Glen, Michigan and Bristol following the tragic accident on Aug. 9 involving Kevin Ward Jr. during a sprint car feature at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park. At 1:00pm/et on Friday (August 29th) 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.(SHR)
NASCAR Statement: Statement from Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President And Chief Racing Development Officer: ‘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.’ NASCAR President Mike Helton will participate in a media availability in the Atlanta Motor Speedway media center on Friday at 2:00pm/et. NASCAR will have no further comment until that time.(NASCAR)
AND Stewart, who is winless and 26th in the Cup standings, would need a waiver from NASCAR to be eligible to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup with a win in one of the final two regular-season events. NASCAR, which requires a driver to qualify or compete in each race, has said it would not make a decision on a waiver until Stewart decides if he was coming back during the regular season.(Sporting News)
