Tony Stewart will sit out his third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race following his involvement in the Aug. 9 death of driver Kevin Ward Jr.
Tony Stewart will sit out Bristol, miss 3rd consecutive race
A still-grieving Tony Stewart will skip Bristol, with Jeff Burton again driving Stewart’s No. 14 car.
Stewart-Haas Racing appointed Jeff Burton to drive Stewart’s No. 14 car this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Burton filled in for Stewart last Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, while Regan Smith drove Aug. 10 at Watkins Glen International.
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Ward, 20, was killed after he stepped out of his sprint car during a race in upstate New York and was struck by the right wheel of Stewart’s car, which hurtled Ward through the air. Ward died of blunt force trauma and an investigation is ongoing.
Stewart’s status continues to be week-to-week, according to a SHR statement. In a press conference Friday at Michigan, team officials said Stewart was “dealing with quite a bit of grief” and not ready to race. As for when Stewart would return, the team did not know but said the decision to return would be Stewart’s.
“It will be up to Tony when he’s ready to get back in the car,” SHR executive vice president Brett Frood said.
Due to mechanical problems Burton finished 37th at Michigan. The next Sprint Cup race is Aug. 31 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
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