#14- Tony Stewart already has defied his doctor’s orders, but there is one order he won’t ignore: The order that he won’t return to racing until the broken bone in his back has healed. The three-time Sprint Cup champion said Friday he will be ready to race once doctors give him the OK. He just has no clue when that will come. His first X-rays since the Feb. 3 surgery for his fractured L1 vertebra will be Wednesday, and that will let him know his progress and possibly set the schedule for his rehab and potential return. Stewart also wouldn’t rule out making the Chase for the Sprint Cup in his final season, hopeful that NASCAR will award him a waiver to miss races, just like it did with Kyle Busch, while still requiring a win and a top-30 regular-season finish in the standings to make the Chase.(ESPN.com)(3-5-2016)
UPDATE: Tony Stewart was evaluated today by doctors, who checked on the injury he sustained in a Jan. 31 all-terrain vehicle accident where the driver of the #14 Chevy for Stewart-Haas Racing suffered a burst fracture of the L1 vertebra. Satisfied with the amount of healing that has taken place, doctors implemented a rehabilitation regimen that will hasten Stewart’s recovery. Future evaluations will be necessary before a timetable is known for Stewart’s return to racing. A full recovery is expected for the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, as is a return to the #14 Chevy this season. Plans for an interim driver have not been finalized.(Stewart-Haas Racing)(3-9-2016)
UPDATE2: Tony Stewart has good news to savor in terms of his health. ‘You’re not waiting on me as far as my mind, I’m ready to go,’ Stewart told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio after Sunday’s Good Sam 500, won by SHR driver Kevin Harvick in thrilling fashion. Four races into his final season, Stewart has yet to turn a lap because of a burst fracture of his first lumbar (L1) vertebra ‘ the uppermost bone in the lower back ‘ in an all-terrain vehicle accident Jan. 31. ‘It’s just, we had a good doctor visit this week and the X-rays were good,’ he added. ‘It wasn’t really to see about the bone growth as much as just making sure the rods and screws were staying in place where they wanted them. They were really happy.’ A return to the cockpit is still on indefinite hold for Stewart. ‘The funny part was when the doctor told me, or the surgeon cleared me to drive a street car,’ Stewart said of his most recent doctor’s visit March 9. ‘I didn’t have the heart to tell him I’ve been driving for almost three weeks. I’m not really one to follow the doctor’s orders anyway, so we’re fine. I’ve been up all day today and I feel great, so we’re excited about where we’re at right now.’ Stewart told SiriusXM that part of his rehabilitation has involved strengthening his core; he is expected to make a full recovery. Stewart also indicated that his next scheduled doctor’s appointment would come in late April.(in part from NASCAR.com)
