But your life and health are not worth risking for the sport. Bowman has an average finish in 37.0 in four Cup races at Texas so far in his young career.
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Earnhardt was joined by Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick and Dr. Micky Collins who serves as director of the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program.
The 41-year-old driver was not cleared to compete for the rest of the season, due to ongoing medical issues from a concussion. “That’s what everyone wants to know, something that makes the decision kind of black and white”.
After being diagnosed with a concussion, Earnhardt has been giving fans updates via social media about his condition.
“Jeff and Alex will give us a great opportunity over the rest of the season”, team owner Rick Hendrick said.
Earnhardt has pointed to an accident at MI in June as triggering his symptoms that led him to step out of his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. They said Alex Bowman and Jeff Gordon will split time in the No. 88 Chevrolet to complete the remaining 12 races in the season.
“Aside from just not being at the track and doing what I’m used to doing, the first four or five weeks were really hard”, Earnhardt said. “I was very ill and it was hard to enjoy the most simplest activity”. He described Sunday “going to Target or somewhere and I have symptoms and might stumble across an aisle or need more sidewalk than a normal guy”.
Yes, Earnhardt said he still wants to come back to racing, thinks he has a couple of good years left and thinks he’s still an asset to Hendrick Motorsports.
“First time all year I have some valuable notes about the package and what the vehicle should be like”, Gordon said.
“Amy’s been great. She’s been there every single day pushing me”, Earnhardt said. When you watch practice on TV, or the watch the (Sprint Cup) race on Sunday, and he’s not in the race vehicle, it affects us. Still there’s the lingering question of what would the Sprint Cup be like without a competitive Earnhardt regularly behind the wheel?
But trying to prove something isn’t why he races.
FILE – In this February 20, 2016, file photo, Dale Earnhardt Jr looks from the garage before practice for at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. “It’s not something that I think about, we are focusing on getting well and getting normal so I internally put all those thoughts and concerns on the backburner until I can say that I really feel normal”. I have an unbelievable team and owner. “I have the passion and the desire to drive”, he said Sunday at Darlington Raceway, “I enjoy it.my heart is there to continue, and if my doctor says I’m physically able to continue, that’s an easier decision for me to make”. He’s also being treated by Charlotte neurosurgeon Dr. He saved the best for fiancée Amy Riemann, speaking with obvious affection of her help in pushing him through his treatment.
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“I feel awesome when I’m at home”, Earnhardt said. We have races to win. “But, I’ll tell you this – Junior is already a Hall of Famer based on his numbers alone”.
