By alley - Feb 6, 2017, 9:00 AM ET

Gidley to drive first laps since '14 Rolex crash

Fresh off his appearance at Daytona International Speedway during the Rolex 24 weekend, Memo Gidley announced he will get in a go-kart this Sunday for his first laps since a horrific accident during the 2014 24 Hours of Daytona race.

"I have been waiting for what seems like an eternity to get that OK from my doctors, and [my] most recent back surgeon [said] that I was healed and could go back to doing the things I want to do!" Gidley said in a statement. "And one big inspiration in my recovery was the day that I could announce me being back driving to my family, friends, and supporters who have helped me heal and get to this point."

Gidley revealed at Daytona that a doctor

recently gave him the go-ahead

to race again. His last surgery – a spinal fusion – was completed more than a year ago.

"Memo Back Driving Day" will be open to the public, taking place at Sim Raceway Kart track at Sonoma Raceway. Gidley will drive a RattleSnake Racing/Cameron/Aluminos 125cc shifter kart.

In the 2014 race, Gidley's pole-winning Corvette DP slammed into Matteo Malucelli's Risi Ferrari as the GT car slowed on the kink in the infield section with a loss of drive. The race had to be red-flagged while the drivers were extracted from their cars. Gidley, who suffered a concussion, has undergone countless surgeries for fractures in a dozen bones as well as his back and tried dozens of treatments to reduce nerve pain from scar tissue from his damaged vertebrae.

"The path to where I am today was extreme, but I was so determined to get better that I pushed hard," Gidley said. "I honestly don't know how a person would survive it without the kind of support from family, friends, and people trying to help like I was fortunate to have. I can't measure how much I appreciate them or thank people enough."