Doctors concluded that the onset of Earnhardt’s concussion-like symptoms, which involve issues with gaze stability, dizziness and balance, began with a wreck at MI in mid-June, though Earnhardt said the intensification of the symptoms was gradual. Open wheel products Juan Pablo Montoya won at Sonoma and Watkins Glen – encompassing both of his Sprint Cup wins – Marcos Ambrose won at the Glen in 2011 and 2012 before returning to race in Australia and A.J. Allmendinger leaped into the Chase with his first Cup win at Watkins Glen in 2014.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. made it clear on Friday. I’m not thinking about the what-ifs. “But if I was 21 and just getting started or very young, it would be so hard to make that decision”. As soon as I can get healthy and get confident in how I feel and feel like I can drive a vehicle, and be great driving it, then I want to drive. I think that’s a possibility and so do my doctors. So I am excited about that. I miss the competition. When we first went into the doctor’s office, we never anticipated being out this long. He spent the entire media session saying retirement is not part of his agenda.
So NASCAR’s most popular driver visited Watkins Glen International – marking his fourth Cup race out of the auto – for his first news conference since recusing himself from the No. 88 Chevrolet before the July 17 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Gordon has placed 13th at Indianapolis and 27th at Pocono as a sub for Earnhardt the last two races. “I think really what’s on hold is just getting his health back and then, there’s no question, our feelings for Dale and, I think, his feelings for us and I think when the time is right we’ll address all that”. After this weekend, we’re going to a lot of places for the second time. “It’s frustrating, but that’s the process”. He said his crash at MI this year shouldn’t have caused the issues he’s having now and was told by his doctors the goal is to make his brain strong enough to withstand a similar impact.
“The point right now is to get healthy, get right”. He has a total of nine road course wins making him one of the possible contenders towards the end of the race.
“I’m not ready to stop racing; I’m not ready to quit”, Earnhardt said. I miss the people. “I’m going to have to miss a race or two and we will get back in the vehicle and we will get going again, ‘” Junior said.
Osborne said that relationship would give his shop everything it needs in the coming weeks as the team seeks a Chase spot.
“My doctor wants to put me in situations that drive the symptoms”, Earnhardt said.
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He said patience is a requirement, something he added is generally not a strong suit for race vehicle drivers. It’s a slower process, I wish it wasn’t. “For a win, you’re going to take whatever risk you have to”. As impatient as I am, I worry about everyone else’s patience as well. The doctors won’t let me race. I trust what my doctors are telling me. And he stated emphatically, at times as if trying to convince those around him of what he has convinced himself: that his “gaze stability” and balance symptoms eventually will subside and that he will emerge stronger and resume a career in which he has won 26 Cup races, the Daytona 500 twice, two Xfinity Series championships, became wealthy and basked in the adoration of a generation of fans.
