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RICHMOND, Va. -- Tony Stewart officially drove out of the garage and onto a race track for the first time this season at 10:59 a.m. ET Friday morning after spending a good half hour in the seat of his red-white-and-blue No. 14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet, getting re-familiarized with the cockpit and debriefing with his team's new crew chief, Michael Bugarewicz.
Both Stewart's return and farewell to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition began this weekend at Richmond International Raceway.
The driver/owner placed 18th (124.700 mph/38 laps) in opening practice before the session was halted for rain.
RELATED: Rain halts on-track activity at Richmond | Weather updates
The three-time Cup champion returned to competition for the first time this season, having received medical clearance earlier this week. He has been recovering from a broken back suffered during the offseason in an all-terrain vehicle accident, and just this week doctors okayed Stewart's return for what is his final NASCAR Cup season as a driver.
The Stewart-Haas Racing team worked fast and furiously, enthusiastically and with unmistakably high energy early Friday morning in the garage preparing Stewart's Chevrolet.
Photographers, cameramen and reporters crowded around the garage to get a glimpse of Stewart.
"For this whole team, this company, it's awesome to see him back at a place he loves, a place he's had success," SHR Competition Director Greg Zipadelli said Friday in the RIR garage.
"It looks like they changed the tire back to the way it used to be, more his style and hopefully we'll have a real sunny day come Sunday. I think it will be a great race.
"For our company, our sponsors and our fans it's awesome that it’s sooner than later."
Stewart's Chevy was positioned in between Aric Almirola’s Ford and Kyle Larson's Chevy in the Richmond garage. And earlier in the morning while the champ was still in his motorcoach getting ready for his first practice session since his last race, the 2015 November finale in Homestead, Fla. the crew was already smiling. There was a palpable sense of expectation.
"We're extremely happy to have him back and to work with him the rest of the year," Chevrolet's Sprint Cup Series Program Manager Alba Colon said as she and Zipadelli stood together, watching preparation for opening practice.
It was the first practice session for Stewart this year, the first time he’s even turned a lap. The medical clearance came so late, he didn't have an opportunity to even test his Chevy before arriving in Richmond.
"He's done this so long it will just be a matter of him adjusting," Zipadelli said. "I think that the state of mind he's in, the adjustments should be short. He's rested; I’ve not seen him this focused, this excited ever.
"It's exciting and I feel good for him that he got the opportunity to come back a couple weeks earlier than we thought at a place he really likes. It's something he really wanted to do.
"Before he went to the doctor the other day, he said, 'If the doctor clears me, I'm going to do this.' "
There was little time to prepare, but the team has been ready and anticipating the eventual go-ahead.
"Everything was in place," Zipadelli said. "It was more of the internal preparation, making sure his helmets were on the truck, gloves, the HANS, all those little details. The guys did a good job working late Wednesday night. Had to make some changes with the seat and the headrest and the weight of the car. They went back and did it all."
RELATED: Drivers react to Stewart's return to No. 14 Chevy
Other drivers seemed genuinely excited to see Stewart back as a competitor.
"It's great to have him back and it's great for the sport," rookie driver Ryan Blaney said Friday.
It was clearly the consensus.
"As a friend, somebody responsible for bringing good race cars to the track for him and our company I just hope he has a great rest of the season, can be competitive and have a lot of fun," Zipadelli said. "I know he's really looking forward to it."
And so are many others.