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NASCAR grants Tony Stewart a Chase eligibility waiver

Tony Stewart has been granted a Chase waiver, but he will still have a lot of work to do if he intends to make it into NASCAR's post-season

Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet

Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet

Eric Gilbert

Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing
Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet in trouble
Race winner Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet celebrates
2015 NASCAR Spring Cup Champion Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet

In a statement from Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer:

“NASCAR received the appropriate medical clearance documentation allowing Tony Stewart to resume normal racing activities. We also have granted the request from Stewart-Haas Racing for a waiver for Tony to be eligible to qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. As he begins his final season, we wish Tony the best of luck.”

Stewart will still have to get himself a race win and reach the Top 30 in the driver's championship standings in order to make the Chase itself. He currently has 112 points to make up to reach 30th (Matt DiBenedetto) and 18 races to do it.

It's also been several years since the three-time Sprint Cup champion made it into Victory Lane with his 48th and most recent win coming at Dover in June, 2013. Smoke will have to show a visible jump in performance in order to have a shot at becoming one of the final 16.

Last year, NASCAR granted Kyle Busch a Chase waiver after missing the first 11 races. He took full advantage of the opportunity, winning four races before the end of the regular season and a fifth at Homestead, which earned him his first Cup title.

Stewart will return to the seat of the No. 14 this weekend, which has been piloted by both Brian Vickers and Ty Dillon this season. Read more about his return and the plan moving forward HERE.

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