Tony Stewart is skipping Sunday's race at Michigan International Speedway, missing his second consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup event since the Kevin Ward Jr. incident.

Stewart, 43, announced his decision on Thursday, putting more uncertainty as to how he will fare the rest of his season. The man did not compete at the race in Watkins, Glen, a day after Kevin Ward Jr. was hit in Canandaigua, New York.

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Ward's funeral was held at Trainor Funeral Home in Boonville, New York on Thursday. According to the autopsy done by the Ontario County coroner, blunt force trauma ended the young racer's life.

"There aren't words to describe the sadness I feel about the accident that took the life of Kevin Ward Jr.," Stewart stated in a statement.

The three-time Sprint Cup champion has not been charged of any crime related to the incident. However, Ontario (N.Y) County sheriff Philip C. Povero and his staff conducted an interview with Stewart the night of the race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park.

This season, Stewart has not recorded a victory and was ranked 21st in the standings. He would need to score at least one out of the remaining four races to qualify for the Sprint Cup championship.

The racer required three surgeries and physical therapy sessions last year due to a broken right leg from a sprint car crash. Stewart missed the final 15 races of the season, but was able to make comeback for the Daytona 500 in February.

Stewart will be replaced by Jeff Burton, driving his No. 14 Chevrolet in Michigan. Burton, who also works as an analyst for NBC, only had two starts this season with the race at New Hampshire in July as his last.

TagsTony Stewart, Michigan, jeff burton, nascar, Kevin Ward Jr.