Tony Stewart will return to racing this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It’s his first appearance since he was involved in an Aug. 9 incident in a sprint car race that led to the death of Kevin Ward Jr.
Ward was struck by Stewart’s car as he walked on the track after spinning his car into the wall while racing Stewart for position at Canandaigua Motorsport Park in New York.
Stewart sat out the past three races — at Watkins Glen, Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn and Bristol Motor Speedway following the incident and dropped from 19th to 26th in the Cup standings. He still can win a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, if NASCAR excuses his absences, if he were to win either Sunday’s Oral-B USA 500 at AMS or the regular-season finale next week at Richmond International Raceway.
Stewart’s team, Stewart-Haas Racing, made the announcement in a news release late Thursday and said Stewart will meet members of the media at AMS on Friday at 1 p.m. He will be joined by Stewart-Haas Racing executive vice president Brett Frood.
NASCAR also issued a statement Thursday about the return of the popular three-time Cup champion. It read: “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 is scheduled to meet with the media at the AMS following Stewart’s appearance. The statement indicated that NASCAR will have no further comment until then.
Local ties
The weekend NASCAR races at Atlanta Motor Speedway will have plenty of local flavor. The main focus will be on Dawsonville’s Chase Elliott and his No. 9 Chevrolet, but there will be plenty of other Georgians in competition, too.
On the Sprint Cup side, David Ragan from Unadilla will drive the No. 34 Ford while Peachtree City’s Reed Sorenson will wheel the No. 36 Chevrolet. Joey Logano, who drives the No. 22 Ford for Team Penske, has local ties, too, as he and his family resided in Alpharetta during the early years of his driving career.
In the Nationwide Series, Chris Cockrum from Conyers will be in the No. 87 Ford, which will carry a special paint scheme honoring the late “Captain” Herb Emory, the longtime traffic reporter and NASCAR show host for News 95.5 & AM 750 WSB.
Tucker’s Ryan Sieg will drive the No. 39 Chevrolet prepared and fielded by his hometown, family-owned team. John Wes Townley from Watkinsville will drive the No. 25 Toyota for his family-owned Athenian Motorsports team. Ragan also will compete in the Great Clips 300 in the No. 98 Biagi-DenBeste Racing Ford.
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