For the last two seasons in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Alex Bowman has essentially been a onlooker on the track. Duchardt would not confirm whether Earnhardt has been diagnosed with a concussion.
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While everyone would like the Dale Earnhardt Jr. concussion talk to focus on his health, there will be a race this weekend. Gordon has won a record five times at the track, including as recently as 2014. Gordon grew up in nearby Pittsboro, Ind. He drives part-time in the second-tier Xfinity Series for Earnhardt’s JR Motorsports team.
NASCAR is one of many sports over the last 10 years that has made sweeping changes in how it treats head injuries.
Upon his retirement, Gordon didn’t rule out driving occasionally in selected events or other series, but his possible return in the Cup Series at one of the sport’s iconic speedways is a scenario few could have expected.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been parked for this weekend’s NASCAR race and more absences could be ahead. “What we need are elite athletes, our stars, to talk about this and advance the conversation and better protect children”. “We’ll just see what happens from here on”.
“He’s a four-time champion with 93 wins – he’s not a bad person to think about to get in the auto”. This week he’s in France. Reports said he was considered for this weekend at New Hampshire, but Hendrick made a decision to go with Bowman because Gordon was on vacation in Europe. “When Dale is ready, it’s his auto to get back into”.
Doug Durchardt, general manager of Hendrick Motorsports, told reporters the decision whether Gordon will or will not drive the No. 88 Chevy at Indy will be made by Wednesday, July 20. “But it’s not easy to be away from the sport and jump back in the saddle. But they knew we were here for sure, and I had a blast”.
Gordon hasn’t raced since last season but his history at the Brickyard 400 suggests he’s more than a prime candidate to replace Earnhardt Jr. “When they say, ‘You’re good to go, ‘ they he’ll be back”.
Still, he said it was the right call to keep Earnhardt out of action until he is healthy. Duchardt would not speculate on whether this is a career-threatening issue. When medication for allergies and a sinus infection failed, Earnhardt dug deeper and met with a neurological specialist. “Sonoma, I think, really helped relax everybody”. And just around, I guess it was Daytona, if there was something major wrong, I think they would have seen it already. So, kudos to the Hendrick team for not only keeping Dale’s seat warm for when he’s well enough to return, but for handling the news responsibly. “I’m working with some great doctors to get well”, Earnhardt tweeted. “I’m working with some great doctors to get well”.
By missing the race, Earnhardt dropped from 14th to 16th in the Chase-qualifying standings, with his cushion on the first driver outside the provisional Chase cutoff, Trevor Bayne, dropping from 32 points to 14 points.
It could be argued that based on Earnhardt’s concussion history, NASCAR should have had him tested after one or both of his accidents. “I hate the circumstances and really hope Dale is feeling well, but I had so much fun today”.
Earnhardt did take the ImPACT test.
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Bowman stayed on the lead lap and finished 26th, but the way the race ended didn’t mute the driver’s enthusiasm. He was not cleared to drive Thursday in a follow-up appointment with a neurologist.
