Tony Stewart's return to NASCAR hit a speed bump four days after he returned from a three-week absence to grieve the death of Kevin Ward Jr.
USA TODAY Sports reported Wednesday that NASCAR chairman Brian France refused to talk about the troubled driver, who is still under investigation for his part in the Aug. 9 tragedy in which his car hit and killed Ward at a dirt-track race in Canandaigua Motorsports Park in New York.
NASCAR Waiver adds to Tony Stewart's healing process
France was speaking at a news conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, to talk announce Xfinity as the title sponsor of NASCAR's No. 2 series. After the announcement, reporters turned the subject to Stewart.
"Not today," France replied.
The no-comment approach from France comes just six days after NASCAR president Mike Helton talked at a news conference at Atlanta Motor Speedway welcoming Stewart back to the circuit.
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"I think we took our position - we thought about it deep and hard," Helton said Wednesday, according to USA TODAY Sports. "I'll let you all decide how the industry reacted to it, but I think for the most part there were a lot of folks in the garage area who were glad to see Tony come back. I think it was good for Tony to get back. We'll see what the future holds."
NASCAR also granted Stewart a waiver for the races he missed to allow him to qualify for a spot in the Chase for the Cup if he were to win one of the two final regular-season races. He finished 41st after crashing his car in Atlanta.
Stewart has one more chance in the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Speedway.
France's refusal to answer questions about Stewart raises questions about whether Stewart is in the clear in regards to his investigation. If either Stewart or NASCAR had any inkling that the investigation may uncover something against Stewart, he shouldn't have raced in Atlanta.
Or France is just being extremely cautious under the circumstances, which is admirable, but a bit late. The investigation could go on for another two weeks or more.
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