Tony Stewart will attempt to get on with his professional life this weekend. Despite the fact that he has every right to do so, apparently NASCAR and other naysayers will be watching him closely.
Multiple media outlets reported Thursday that Stewart, less than three weeks removed from a tragic accident in which his race-car struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. at a dirt-track event in Canadaigua Motorsports Park in New York, will resume his career on Sunday in NASCAR's event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
No end in sight for investigation into tragedy involving Tony Stewart's car killing Kevin Ward Jr.
His Stewart-Haas Racing team made the announcement on its Twitter feed, CNN reported.
The investigation into Ward's death, which remains active, prompted NASCAR to issue a statement on Stewart's return.
Media speculation warranted in absence of Tony Stewart comments
Tony Stewart has received all the necessary clearances required to return to all racing activities and therefore is eligible to compete this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway," Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, said in the statement, as reported by USA TODAY Sports. "NASCAR has remained in constant contact with his race team, and we will stay very close to this situation as Stewart returns to competition."
It is an oddly worded statement from stock-car racing's governing body. If Stewart has been cleared, why does NASCAR have to stay close - or at least say it will stay close - to the situation? The entire racing world will stay close to the situation.
Stewart's announcement also has drawn criticism. In another USA TODAY article, Nancy Armour states that Stewart should have waited for the investigation to conclude.
But on Wednesday, a spokeswoman said that no timetable has been established for that investigation to conclude.
Armour added that Stewart also is being motivated by hopes of becoming eligible for the Chase for the Spring Cup by winning one of the last two races and then applying for a waiver to qualify. She added that his return this weekend wouldn't draw as much of the spotlight as a return in next weekend's race at Richmond.
It seems far-fetched to think that Stewart would be a favorite in either of the last two races before the Chase, and the argument that Labor Day and the start of college football would hide Stewart's return better than next weekend, with the start of the NFL season and the fact that Stewart is returning, is preposterous.
Ward's father appears to be the only person who has insinuated any intent on Stewart's part to hit his son.
"Apparently, Tony Stewart was the only one driving out there who didn't see him," the father said, CNN state, using a report via Syracuse.com.
Tyler Graves, a friend of Ward's that witnessed the tragedy, asserted that Stewart hit the throttle in a fit of anger at the oncoming Ward, which may have forced Stewart's car to fishtail to the right and catch Ward.
But Graves said he did not believe that Stewart tried to hit Ward intentionally.
Despite the criticism and having NASCAR watching over him, Stewart's return now makes sense for his long-term viability.
No charges have been filed against Stewart, and nothing is preventing him from returning to racing. If he were to wait until next season, as some have suggested he should do, then he would not be able to start the 2015 season with a clean slate.
Then, the tragedy of Ward's death would recirculate at the start of next season when Stewart climbed into his car for the first time.
If the investigation uncovers evidence that would create a legal issue for Stewart, it will still play out. Those saying that Stewart will wait will feel justified, but Stewart was not charged with wrongdoing immediately after the incident, and so far nothing has turned up in the investigation to implicate Stewart.
If NASCAR had reason to think that Stewart might face charges, it wouldn't have allowed him to return.
One very small consolation from the tragedy is the rule requiring drivers to stay in their vehicles - provided staying in the vehicle is safe - until safety crews arrive.
USA TODAY Sports reported that Stewart will hold a news conference today, and hopefully, some answers will come forth. But to deny Stewart the right to return to racing - when no one has yet come up with evidence that he shouldn't be allowed to return - is wrong.
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