Tony Stewart pulls out of Sunday's race at Michigan Speedway

Tony Stewart has pulled out of Sunday's NASCAR event at Michigan Speedway, NASCAR announced on Thursday. Stewart struck and killed sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr. in a dirt track race last weekend in Canandaigua, N.Y.

Tony Stewart has decided not to drive in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Michigan Speedway, NASCAR announced Thursday.

Stewart struck and killed sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr. in a dirt track race last weekend in Canandaigua, N.Y., and later pulled out of the NASCAR race at Watkins Glen that was scheduled for the next day.

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Stewart's team, Stewart-Haas Racing, announced Jeff Burton will drive Stewart's car Sunday. The team also said no decisions have been made about any of Stewart's future races. However, by opting not to drive at Michigan, Stewart's chances of qualifying for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship are all but gone. Winless this season, he will have to ask NASCAR to waive its rule mandating drivers qualify or race every weekend of the Sprint Cup season in order to be eligible.

More: Kevin Harvick defends Tony Stewart, says he's 'a great person'​

Ward's funeral was held Thursday in Upstate New York.

- Dan Gartland