ATLANTA: Tony Stewart, who has missed three US stock car races since killing a fellow driver in a dirt-track race three weeks ago, will return this weekend, his team announced Thursday.
The 43-year-old American racer, a star in the closed-cockpit series that ranks as America’s most popular form of auto racing, still has a chance to qualify for the season-ending title chase in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR).
“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,” said NASCAR vice-president Steve O’Donnell.
“NASCAR has remained in constant contact with his race team, and we will stay very close to this situation as Stewart returns to competition.”
Stewart makes his return at the 1.54-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway oval. He has not raced since August 3 at the Pocono Raceway tri-oval. AFP