MARTINSVILLE, Ind. – Veteran dirt late model driver Don O’Neal is returning to competition after recovering from knee surgery.

O’Neal, the driver of the No. 5 entry for Clint Bowyer Racing in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, underwent surgery in June to correct an injury suffered in an off-track incident at South Carolina’s Cherokee Speedway.

Following an extensive rehabilitation process, O’Neal has been cleared to compete and will return to the No. 5 entry this weekend for a trio of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events at Kentucky’s Ponderosa Speedway, Ohio’s Portsmouth Raceway Park and West Virginia’s Tyler County Speedway.

While O’Neal was recovering from surgery, Pennsylvania late model driver Michael Norris took over the reigns of No. 5 entry for Clint Bowyer Racing.

GREAT NEWS!! Dr cleared Me to race this weekend!Couldn’t be more excited to get back in that @Asgrow_DEKALB @ihearttraeger #5.Many thanks to @TheCrusherKid for filling my seat for me. Your a great young man &It definitely won’t be the last time you see this kid in a top series ?

— Don O’Neal (@DonONeal5) August 28, 2019