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| Earnhardt sidelined at least two weeks |
The Hendrick
Motorsports driver suffered a concussion in a last-lap crash at Talladega
Superspeedway Sunday, and will be sidelined from the next two NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series races at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. Hendrick
Motorsports confirmed the injury in a written statement early today, saying
Earnhardt was diagnosed Wednesday afternoon in Charlotte. Sources say he has experienced
headaches and dizziness since the crash.
In 2002, Earnhardt ran
several races with a concussion without the knowledge of NASCAR, prompting the
sanctioning body to change its policy and require medical clearance before
returning to competition after a crash. He is currently 11th in
Sprint Cup Series championship points, 51 behind leader Brad Keselowski.
Regan Smith
will drive the No. 88 AMP/National Guard Chevrolet at Charlotte and Kansas,
Earnhardt and team owner Rick Hendrick and crew chief Steve Letarte will meet
with the media this morning at 11 AM at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Photo: Kevin Liles, US Presswire
Since Jr drove his car to the garage was he required to go to the infield care center after the wreck? It seems if drivers can drive the car to the garage after a wreck they’re not required to go to the care center. NASCAR should change their policy to require drivers to go to the care center for an evaluation after the race if they are involved in any type of accident on the track.
ReplyDeleteThis is BIG. I hate it for Jr. Maybe Phoenix could give AJ a tryout.
ReplyDeleteThis story has just broke and I have already received multiple texts from friends that are on different sides of the implications.
ReplyDeleteOn the Jr. Nation side- there are those that are citing this unfortunate incident as the reason he will not be winning the championship. The other side of the camp is already complaining about Jr. Nation not facing "the facts" that Jr. most likely would not be a front runner for the championship to begin with... I guess we will never know.
I personally think it is an unfortunate event but I hope some positives come out of it. Wouldn't it be something if AJ Allmendinger got a shot to run the 51 Phoenix car- even if it is for only 2 races?
Get well soon Jr.
Good call. But Jr nation will probably tune out the next two races.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that Jr won't be able to race for the Chase, but, hopefully, he'll recover and race another day. Having said that, I wonder how many drivers that have the same symptoms, but because they don't the financial security that Jr has, stay silent and continue to race?
ReplyDeleteSo was this NASCAR that sat him out or HMS doctors?
ReplyDeleteAs you may already know, his neurosurgeon, Dr Petty, wouldn't clear him to race this or next weekend.
DeleteThat is a shame, but better to be safe than sorry.
ReplyDeleteI thinks Jimmy Johnson should face some sort of penalty because if you watch the replay Dale Jr. never put his window net down indicating he needed help but JJ comes along and takes down the net and wants a ride back to the pits on the side of the car. When did JJ become an EMT. He could have put Jr. in great harm which he already has done since Jr. did not get treated correctly at the scene. It is time for Nsacar to step in and punish JJ in a big way maybe even suspension for a while.
ReplyDeleteSeriously? Really? Dale Jr, never "indicated he needed help." He drove back to the garage,climbed out of the car and began giving interviews! Take a deep breath, the hysteria is getting to you!
DeleteYes Really !! I am not a Jr fan or never will be . I am for driver safety only. I guess you need to need to look at the full replay plus jr went fairly fast down pit road the wrong way. You can give interviews even if you are hurt so that proves nothing. If that drivers net does not come down only an emergency worker should take it down ynless there was fire.
DeleteDave: We know that Phoenix racing has its engines supplied by Hendrick. We also know that Regan was signed to race for Phoenix just for one race. Would Hendrick have to compensate Phoenix Racing or is it just common courtesy to let a driver go for a better opportunity?
ReplyDeleteI too would like an answer to this. Awesome question.
DeleteMy guess is since Regan was on a "try-out" contract that it was minimal compensation to drive therefore any opportunity would have been seen as "better"
If you have any insight thought Mr. Moody, it'd be nice to know.
Knowing James Finch, my guess is that he did not want to hold Regan back from a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive the #88. Just my guess, though.
DeleteI think that this is unfortunate for JR and his team. I am disappointed that he will not be given an opportunity to bounce back from that crash and the bad finishing spot.
ReplyDeleteI do think it is good that he will sit out and get better properly. Football has shown us the long term affects of concussions and NASCAR is right for stepping in for the safety of JR and all drivers.