NASCAR chairman Brian France mum on Tony Stewart

Brian France

NASCAR chairman Brian France declined to answer questions about Tony Stewart on Wednesday during his first media appearance since Stewart's sprint car struck and killed driver Kevin Ward Jr. on Aug. 9.

As reporters approached France following a news conference to announce Xfinity as the title sponsor of NASCAR's No. 2 series, France said "Not today," when asked about Stewart.

NASCAR president Mike Helton, who held a press conference Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway after Stewart made his first public remarks after the incident, said the driver was welcomed back by the garage area.

"I think we took our position — we thought about it deep and hard," Helton said Wednesday. "I'll let you all decide how the industry reacted to it, but I think for the most part there were a lot of folks in the garage area who were glad to see Tony come back. I think it was good for Tony to get back. We'll see what the future holds."

NASCAR granted Stewart a waiver for the races he missed, which means he could still make the Chase for the Sprint Cup if he wins Saturday night's race at Richmond International Raceway.

Ontario County (N.Y.) Sheriff Philip Povero said Friday the investigation into Ward's death would last at least another two weeks.

Ward was spun by Stewart in the Aug. 9 sprint car race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park and got out of his car to confront the three-time NASCAR champion under caution. Ward walked down the track as the cars came around and Stewart's car then struck and killed Ward, who died of blunt force trauma.

Stewart sat out the next three Sprint Cup Series races after Ward's death but returned Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he finished 41st after hitting the wall. USA Today