Former NASCAR champion Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman have been granted waivers for eligibility in the 2020 Cup Series playoffs, NASCAR announced Tuesday.
Monday it was announced Kenseth would replace the fired Kyle Larson for Chip Ganassi Racing.
On Sunday, Newman said he would be ready to race again when the season resumed.
Newman suffered a head injury from a harrowing crash at the end of the Daytona 500 in February. He spent less than 48 hours in the hospital. He missed the last three races before the season was suspended by the coronavirus pandemic.
To be eligible for the playoffs, drivers need to compete in all 36 Cup races and maintain at least a top-30 position in the point standings.
A driver earns one of the 16 playoff positions by winning a race or being among the top point leaders among those that didn't win a race.
Kenseth last competed in 2018, when he drove in 15 races for Roush Fenway Racing. He won the title with Roush in 2003.
He is in a class of drivers that includes Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Richard Petty and David Pearson as the only competitors to win a Cup Series championship, rookie of the year award and the Daytona 500.
