FILe – In this August 5, 2016, file photo, Dale Earnhardt Jr. listens to a question about his concussion while addressing the media at Watkins Glen International racetrack in Watkins Glen, N.Y. Earnhardt will miss the rest of the NASCAR season as he continues to recover from a concussion.
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Earnhardt spoke Sunday at Darlington Raceway, two days after announcing he would end his racing year and planned to return in time for the 2017 season. “I don’t think anyone is putting it on him, but I’m sure he feels pressure to the team and the sport, but the only thing that matters is his health”.
“I feel like the recovery is going real good”, Earnhardt Jr. said.
“The seat is his and I expect we’ve got a lot of time between now and Daytona”, Hendrick said. “My heart wants me to continue and be working with the guys I got”. Although many fans are sure to be disappointed about the decision, his team says that it’s the best choice for his longterm health.
“When I first saw Dale, my goal was to see Dale become a human being again”, Collins said. Of course, Hendrick Motorsports wants him to return when he is best suited to buckle back in for an extended period of time, rather than one individual race. We’ve had incredible support from everyone involved with the teams. Gordon is set to drive on Sunday in Darlington. Gordon replaced Earnhardt Jr. the next four races and Bowman recently drove for the team this past Sunday at MI.
Craven, who returned to win two races following his concussion issues, could hear the drive and determination in Earnhardt’s voice on Sunday. After Sunday’s race at Darlington, Gordon will compete in the No. 88 at Richmond, Dover and Martinsville, where he scored his most recent victory previous year.
“I definitely don’t belong in a race vehicle today by any stretch of the imagination”, Earnhardt said. Watt is feeling much better and that it “looks decent” for him to play in the season opener against Chicago on September 11.
Dr. Raj K. Narayan, the head of neurosurgery at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York, and LIJ Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York, said it’s impossible for those on the outside to know exactly what Earnhardt is going through.
Bowman was tabbed to fill in for the team at New Hampshire, while former HMS driver Gordon took over for races at Indianapolis, Pocono, Watkins Glen and Bristol.
“I have the passion and desire to drive”, Earnhardt said.
It is believed that a crash at MIS in June is what caused the concussion.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.is now sidelined for the rest of 2016.
Earnhardt is now eyeing a return to NASCAR competition at next year’s Daytona 500 in February. You were going to climb in that race auto and if you could, you were going to drive it.
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Earnhardt will be back in a race vehicle before Daytona, telling reporters Sunday he will test a auto once he’s cleared by doctors.
