David Gilliland cleared to race after hard crash

Front Row Motorsports driver was involved in big wreck with Justin Allgaier at Kansas

VOTE: Pick your favorite drivers for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

David Gilliland said Monday that he received medical clearance to race this weekend after a severe crash last Saturday night at Kansas Speedway. NASCAR confirmed on Monday night that Gilliland is clear to return to racing without restrictions.

Gilliland provided the update through his Twitter account, saying that he will participate in NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race activities this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Just got the ALL GOOD to race! Time to go racing again!!!!! Big credit to NASCAR and the safety of our sport!!!

— David Gilliland (@DavidGilliland) May 12, 2014

Gilliland collided with Justin Allgaier‘s spinning car in the 187th of 267 laps of the 5-hour Energy 400. The violent impact, at nearly full speed on the 1.5-mile track’s frontstretch, sent Gilliland’s No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford careening into the outside retaining wall.

A shaken Gilliland gingerly walked to the ambulance under his own power. He was evaluated and released from the infield care center.

“I am OK,” Gilliland said Saturday night after retiring with a 37th-place finish. “I don’t know what happened. … We are all right, though. Just a little sore obviously. That is one of the hardest hits I have had in a while. Hopefully it will be the hardest one for a while to come too. I am fine, though, just ready to get on with it.”

Gilliland will compete in Friday night’s NASCAR Sprint Showdown, a 40-lap qualifying race for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday night (9 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1). To transfer his way into the main event, he’ll need to finish either first or second in the Friday night qualifier or win the Sprint Fan Vote.

MORE: