RELATED: Full Stewart coverage | Drivers react to Stewart’s return
RICHMOND, Va. — The feeling around the NASCAR garage at Richmond International Raceway on Friday was both unanimous and magnanimous.
Tony Stewart‘s return to Sprint Cup Series competition this weekend was the big news of the week, possibly the year and he was greeted by welcome text messages, friendly pats on the back, and lots of smiles and goodwill.
NASCAR legend Richard Petty, whose team’s car was parked in the garage stall next to Stewart’s, sought Stewart out and embraced him.
By the time Stewart, 44, climbed into his No. 14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet for Friday morning’s opening practice, many of his competitors had stopped by to shake the three-time champ’s hand or wish him well in his first racing weekend since the 2015 season finale. Doctors cleared Stewart to compete this weekend after an eight-race absence while his body healed from a broken back — an injury he suffered during an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accident just before the season began.
RELATED: Stewart’s return is the talk of the garage
Stewart broke the news of his return himself on Twitter Thursday saying, “Well the long wait is over. I’ll be back in my @Mobil1 Chevy this weekend at Richmond. I can’t wait to race again.”
Then he added, “The Dr’s said my scans ‘looked much better than they thought they would after 3 months.’ So they cleared me.”
He will start Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 from the 18th-place on the grid — his position in the only practice on a day shortened because of rain.
But the weather was the only downer on a day dominated by a warm and enthusiastic welcome back for Stewart.
“I don’t know about from the NASCAR standpoint, but from a competitor’s standpoint Tony is one of the fiercest competitors in the sport so to have him there and have someone to battle against is fun,” Carl Edwards said.
Stewart’s Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick won the pole for Sunday’s race thanks to a chart-topping run in Friday’s only practice and it certainly sets the stage for a grand return of the team’s namesake. Stewart’s team confirmed their leader is re-energized and enjoying the positive reinforcement throughout the garage and in the grandstands.
“It’s been interesting just for the fact that I came to Stewart-Haas Racing to race with Tony, and obviously it’s been an in-and-out of the car situation for the last two and a half years,” Harvick said. “So, to see where he was from a personal standpoint over the time from when he got hurt and everything that happened, and see his interaction from the owner’s standpoint over the last several weeks has been very interesting to me, just to see how engaged he was and how excited he was and how relaxed and into what was going on.”
And his fellow competitors want to see “Smoke” go out strong.
“This is a retirement season for him and it was a little bit delayed, but he’s now going to some of the these race tracks for the final time and I know just in general, Tony has been around and traveling each week to the race and tracks and been very hands on with his race team,” Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin said Friday.
“It’s a great season and I would love to see him make a Chase push if he can and end on a good note.”