Tony Stewart cleared, will race at Richmond

Tony Stewart plans to make his 2016 Sprint Cup debut at Richmond this weekend.

Stewart has not raced competitively this season while recovering from a broken bone in his back. Stewart broke the news himself via Twitter on Thursday.

“Well, the long wait is over. I’ll be back in my @Mobil1 Chevy this weekend at Richmond. I can’t wait to race again ?????????? #SmokeWillRise,” Stewart wrote.

Stewart-Haas Racing has been doing just fine without Stewart the past three months thanks to Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick. Busch has six top-10 finishes.

Stewart has a rookie crew chief for his No. 14 Chevy in Mike Bugarewicz.

“I think Kurt and Kevin are both on pace like they normally are,” Stewart told Sirius/XM on Thursday. “I think the 14 car obviously is backed in a corner because we have a rookie crew chief who’s doing a great job, but he definitely got dealt a bad hand when I got hurt and having to juggle around between two fill-in drivers before I get back in the car, but I think he’s done a great job. I think he’s exceeded my expectations from the start of the year with these guys. I think Ty and Brian have done an awesome job driving the car and Mike has done an awesome job crew chiefing, so I think they’re doing well.”

Stewart said before the 2016 season and prior to his injury that this would be his final lap on the Sprint Cup circuit, retiring one year after Jeff Gordon said goodbye.

“I feel great,” Stewart said on the “Morning Drive” radio show. “I’ve done stuff that the doctors will cringe if they find out about. I’ve been working on my property on heavy equipment … I’ve been doing a lot of stuff that I probably shouldn’t be on and shouldn’t be driving around and operating, but I feel great.”