Tony Stewart spoke Friday. Tony Stewart's peers spoke Friday and NASCAR spoke Friday.
And unless everyone is wrong about what the ongoing investigation into Kevin Ward Jr.'s death will uncover, their collective words should be enough to allow Stewart to get on with his life.
Tony Stewart's return to racing is a no-win-but-necessary situation
Speaking from Atlanta where he is scheduled to race in Sunday's Oral-B USA 500, Stewart read from a prepared statement in the aftermath of the Aug. 9 tragedy at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in which he ran over and killed fellow driver Ward.
"This has been one of the toughest tragedies I've ever had to deal with, both professionally and personally," Stewart said, the New York Daily News reported. "This is something that will definitely affect my life forever. This is a sadness and a pain that I hope no one has to experience in their life. That being said, I know that the pain and the mourning that Kevin Ward's family is feeling is something that I can't possibly imagine."
No end in sight to Tony Stewart investigation into Kevin Ward Jr.'s death
Stewart declined to field questions, citing the ongoing investigation preventing him from speaking specifically about what he categorized as "the accident." He promised he would speak at the appropriate time.
Investigators into the tragedy said they would continue to look into the matter for at least another two weeks.
NASCAR president Mike Helton said the governing body granted Stewart's request to race this weekend, based on "third-party experts" to gauge whether Stewart was prepared to return. Helton refused to answer whether NASCAR relied on psychologists or psychiatrists to clear Stewart.
Then, NASCAR also announced that it granted a request from Stewart-Haas Racing to allow Stewart to qualify for the postseason Chase for the Cup if he wins one of the last two races of the regular-season, which got the backing of other NASCAR drivers.
"I think the whole intent of eligibility for the Chase is so that somebody just doesn't go take a vacation after winning a few races," Gordon said, according to USA TODAY Sports. "That's the way I look at it. It's not for unforeseen circumstances to prevent you from going out and competing in the Chase. They want the teams and the drivers who've earned their way in it and deserve to be in it. And if they win a race, then I believe they should be in it."
Gordon added he fully supported the circumstances behind Stewart's return to racing.
"I sent him a text as soon as I found out he was coming back," Gordon, a four-time Cup titlist, said. "I'm very supportive of having him back. I know based on watching the press conference (Friday afternoon) how emotional this has been for him. I do think that the best thing for him is to be in that race car."
Not everyone shared Gordon's sentiment.
USA TODAY Sports reported that Brad Keselowski didn't answer directly when asked about NASCAR's waiver for Stewart in the Chase but expressed frustration about what he considered a lack of information about the Aug. 9 tragedy.
"The only real feeling I have is that there should be more information than there is," he said. "I think everyone is getting the shaft. I think everyone is trying to have an opinion without having all the information, and that's a scary place to be."
Are you in favor of the two decisions NASCAR made regarding Tony Stewart - allowing him to race this weekend and granting his waiver request to qualify for the Chase for the Cup if he wins one of the final two regular-season races? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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