Stewart fit to race at Bristol

The Pontiac star was knocked out in the shunt and had to be airlifted to hospital. Despite complaining of leg and back pains, Stewart got away with minor injuries and is eager to race at the short 0.5-mile oval.

"It's my favorite track," he said. "Why shouldn't I feel comfortable racing there? I feel fine. It's just the normal deal after a wreck. You're going to feel sore and you're going to have some bruises. The aftermath from my wreck was no different. But I've been cleared by the doctors to race and my intentions are to go out there and do my job this weekend.

"Physically, I feel like I'm in good enough shape right now that I could handle it. It's my favorite place to race at anyway," he continued. "If I'm going to go somewhere a little bit banged up I'd rather go to my favorite place. To me, that's comfortable."

Bristol provides one of the biggest spectacles in NASCAR racing. With nearly 150,000 spectators packed into the grandstands around the 36 degree banking, the atmosphere is as intense as the racing that takes place on the oval's small confines.

"Bristol is one of those places where there are so many variables and so many things that can go wrong during the race that everything has to be absolutely perfect for you to even stay in the top-five," Stewart explained. "If you have a perfect day you might run fifth. It's awesome when you can come away with a win."

The race starts at 1800 (GMT).