Jeff Gordon (left) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. talk in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 Powered by Kroger at Martinsville Speedway on October 26, 2013.
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That’s because his former Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr.is suffering from concussion-like symptoms, and will miss the race this weekend at New Hampshire.
Gordon has not raced since last season’s finale at Homestead, wrapping up a career that included 93 career Cup victories and series championships in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001.
Gordon retired at the conclusion of the 2015 season and is now a television analyst for Fox Sports. “This week, he’s in France….”
Dale doesn’t have to worry about Jeff stealing his ride, as Doug said, “When Day is ready, it’s his auto to get back into”. A decision on Earnhardt’s availability would be determined no later than Wednesday Duchardt said.
“Because of my symptoms and my history with concussions, and after my recent wrecks at MI and Daytona, I met with a neurological specialist”, said Earnhardt.
“He’s done a lot for my career and I couldn’t be any more thankful than I am”. “I know for him, as much as he’s doing the right thing and knows he’s doing the right thing for himself, I know he feels bad and feels he’s letting [crew chief Greg Ives] and the team down”.
Missing multiple races would jeopardize Earnhardt’s participation in this season’s Chase, as he’s now in the field based exclusively on his points total.
“Tuesdays we have our competition meeting and he shows up and he’s just normal Dale”, Duchardt said during a press conference Friday morning at NHMS.
CAMPING WORLD TRUCKLast race: William Byron won for the fourth time in 10 races this season last week in Kentucky. “We will obviously be thinking about contingency plans, but we don’t have anything formalized for sure past Indy”, he said. “As we gain information through this, we’ll look at the scenario whether it’s short-term or long-term”. “I’m not going to speculate on Dale’s future”.
Gordon has run in every Brickyard race since the inaugural event in 1994.
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Defending Brickyard 400 victor Kyle Busch said he didn’t expect Gordon to have any problem getting back in the race vehicle, if need be, for the first time since November.
