Official Release

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Carl Edwards was made available to the media at Richmond International Raceway:

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Erik Jones was made available to the media at Richmond International Raceway: ERIK JONES, No. 20 Hisense Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - What is your mindset coming off your XFINITY Series win last weekend at Bristol?

BK Racing driver Matt DiBenedetto and team owner Ron Devine were made available to the media at Richmond International Raceway:

KURT BUSCH, NO. 41 MONSTER ENERGY/HAAS AUTOMATION CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Richmond International Raceway and discussed Tony Stewart’s return to competition, racing in the day at Richmond versus racing under the lights, his thoughts on the lugnut rule and many other topics.

Richard Petty Motorsports announced today an alignment with Pioneer Technology Group for the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The software development company will have associate placement on the No. 44 Ford Fusion driven by Brian Scott.

JR Motorsports and Unilever, a team partner since 2009 and one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Refreshments, Home and Personal Care products, announced today an extension that sees Dale Earnhardt Jr. continue as a brand ambassador for the company through 2018. As part of the agreement, JR Motorsports (JRM), the race team co-owned by Earnhardt Jr., will carry Unilever sponsorship on its NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) entries for 20 races in 2017-18.

Ryan Blaney, driver of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion, returns to the site of his first NASCAR start, Richmond International Raceway, this time in the Sprint Cup Series with the Wood Brothers. Blaney spoke about coming back to Richmond and his stellar rookie season to date with media members Friday morning.

Tony Stewart has been cleared by his doctors and NASCAR to return to racing, effective immediately. He will drive the No. 14 Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy Chevrolet SS fielded by Stewart-Haas Racing throughout this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

NASCAR has fined Stewart-Haas Racing driver and co-owner Tony Stewart $35,000 for violations of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book, the sanctioning body announced Thursday.

"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.