Wednesday, Earnhardt Jr, his team of doctors and Hendrick Motorsports officials revealed that per doctor orders, the driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet was to sit out at least another two weeks.
Advertisement
“That’s going to be really cool… if we get to race Jeff one more time”, three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart, who will retire from Cup racing after this season, said Sunday. “Greg (Ives) and the team did a great job at New Hampshire, and they have the full support of our organization”.
Gordon has five career victories at Indianapolis and six at Pocono.
“Dale is special to me, take the driving part away”, Hendrick said.
Earnhardt Jr. said in his podcast on Sunday that he definitely wouldn’t have been able to drive at New Hampshire because of the balance issues and nausea he’d been experiencing.
“He’s been out of the auto this year”. On Tuesday, Earnhardt returned to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Sports Medicine Concussion Program – where he had previously consulted with doctors – and a decision was made to hold him out of the auto.
Gordon and team might be better served by modifying Earnhardt’s Pocono vehicle.
Alex Bowman subbed for Earnhardt on Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Jeff Gordon will fill in for Dale Earnhardt Jr.in the next two Sprint Cup races. Were all proud of him and looking forward to having him racing soon..
Gordon retired after last season and had been working as an analyst for NASCAR races on FOX.
Gordon’s final NASCAR race came at Homestead in November as he finished sixth in the Ford EcoBoost 400.
“Jeff’s a team player”, Hendrick said in a statement. By allowing teams to apply for a waiver so the driver will still be eligible to make the playoffs, NASCAR made it possible for Earnhardt to take himself out of the auto. The 41-year-old driver, who has 13 poles and 26 wins, sat out for two races in 2012 after suffering a concussion at Talladega Superspeedway. As for his timetable to return to the wheel, Earnhardt Jr. said there is none.
Earnhardt has yet to win a race this year but is now among the provisional Chase field based on his points score. Saturday, July 23, will feature driver autograph sessions, Sprint Cup qualifying and XFINITY heat races followed by the Lilly Diabetes 250.
So while there is no guarantee that Gordon won’t show the rust of eight months off, there is little doubt that he is the best option for the No. 88 team right now.
Advertisement
And if the opportunity arose, Gordon hinted he could be enticed to drive in one more Sprint Cup race.
