CONCORD, N.C. — NASCAR has granted waivers to Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth to potentially race for the NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Roush Fenway Racing President Steve Newmark made the announcement on Twitter Tuesday afternoon that Newman had been granted his waiver.
“We’re thrilled to announce that @NASCAR has granted @RyanJNewman a waiver and he will be eligible to run for the championship,” Newmark said in his Tweet. “The entire @roushfenway team is ready for the task ahead.”
Newman was injured in a violent crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500 at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Feb. 17. He missed the next three races before the racing season ground to a halt as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Monday, NASCAR confirmed that Newman had been cleared to resume racing activities, paving the way for him to return to the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang when racing resumes. Ross Chastain drove the No. 6 for three races prior to the racing shutdown.
Shortly after Newmark announced Newman had been granted his waiver, NASCAR announced Kenseth had also been granted a waiver.
The 2003 NASCAR Cup Series champion, Kenseth was named the new driver of the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Camaro on Monday. He replaces Kyle Larson, who was fired by the race team after using a racial slur during an iRacing stream.
Kenseth has not competed in the NASCAR Cup Series since the final race of the 2018 season.
Both drivers must be within the top-30 in the NASCAR Cup Series standings and earn victories in order to qualify for the playoffs.