Earnhardt, driver of the No. 88
Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, was evaluated this week in Charlotte, NC,
and has not received clearance from his physicians to race. Alex Bowman will replace
him this weekend at New Hampshire.
“I wasn’t feeling great the week
going into Kentucky (Speedway) and thought it was possibly severe allergies,” said
Earnhardt in a written statement issued by Hendrick Motorsports. “I saw a
family doctor and was given medication for allergies and a sinus infection.
When that didn’t help, I decided to dig a little deeper. Because of my symptoms
and my history with concussions, and after my recent wrecks at Michigan and
Daytona, I reached out and met with a neurological specialist. After further
evaluation, they felt it was best for me to sit out.
“I’m disappointed about missing New
Hampshire this weekend. I’m looking forward to treatment with the goal of
getting back in the race car when the doctors say I’m ready.”
A timetable for Earnhardt’s return
has not been established. Hendrick Motorsports will provide an update next week
regarding their plans for the July 24 event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“I’m
proud of Dale for standing up,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick
Motorsports. “The number-one priority is his health, so we’re going to give him
all the time he needs. We completely support the decision by the doctors and
will be ready to go win races when he’s 100 percent. In the meantime, we have
full confidence in Greg Ives and the team, and we know they’ll do a great job.”
In
2012, Earnhardt suffered a pair of concussions in a six-week span that
sidelined him from two races at the start of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint
Cup. He
announced in April of this year that he will donate his brain to science, post-mortem, in an attempt
to advance research into Chronic
Traumatic Encephalopathy.
He is currently 13th in championship points, just 32 points above the current Chase cutoff. NASCAR has awarded medical waivers to drivers in the past, based on similar cases; allowing him to still qualify for the Chase, despite not attempting to qualify for every regular-season event.
NASCAR has not commented on whether he will be awarded such a waiver.
I hope they will grant him the waver. It would be a bit unfair not to give Jr. the waiver when he did the stand up thing and seek help. Not a Jr. fan, but it would be fair.
ReplyDeleteWow as much as I don't and won't pull for Hendrick drivers, I hope this clears up soon.
ReplyDeleteWhat year did he have the two Concussions David?
ReplyDeleteSending out a prayer for a safe and speedy recovery from San Antonio.
ReplyDeleteSending out a prayer for a safe and speedy recovery from San Antonio.
ReplyDeleteMY prayers are with you Dale. Get well soon, we Love you
ReplyDeleteLove you too Dave, keep up your great work
ReplyDeleteDale is definitely an asset to NASCAR, but perhaps it's time for him to retire. It isn't worth life long pain and he has nothing to prove to anyone.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Earnhardt's doctor pulled him out of the race and not NASCAR, and that Jr ran the previous race with these same symptoms is an indication NASCAR has a long, long way to go before it's concussion protocol is anything near as good as the NFL's policy.
ReplyDeleteThere is no telling how many drivers are racing around the track with a concussion because NASCAR apparently isn't testing for it after drivers have been in wrecks.
NASCAR had no basis to examine him. Neither wreck (Michigan or Daytona) was especially violent by NASCAR standards, and since he was able to drive the car back to the garage under its own power, he was not required to report to the Infield Care Center. Dale himself did not realize he was injured until this week. Perhaps this will spur some modification in NASCAR's policy in that regard.
DeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteAnd now it's worse with Gordon now in that car at Indianapolis and Pocono - and if it's come this far I'm wondering if Junior will race again this season.
ReplyDelete