Hendrick Motorsports on Thursday said that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will sit out Saturday night’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the following week’s race at Kansas Speedway.
During a Goodyear tire test on Aug. 29. at the Kansas Speedway, Dale Jr. knew something was wrong after hitting the wall in turn 1.
“Going into Turn 1, I remember everything about that accident and everything after that accident, but you know your body and you know how your mind works, and I knew something was just not quite right. I decided to just try to push through and work through it. I’ve had concussions before and thought I knew what I was dealing with.” Said Junior.
Dale Jr. was injured in a 25-car, last-lap accident Sunday at Talladega, but because he was able to drive his car away from the accident, Earnhardt was not required to go to the care center for an examination at the time.
When Junior continued to have headaches, he decided to see Dr. Petty after consulting with his sister and business partner, Kelley Earnhardt-Miller.
Dr. Jerry Petty a neurosurgeon who personally treats Earnhardt, said the driver was honest about his symptoms over the last six weeks. Earnhardt underwent an MRI on Wednesday and tests came back normal with no damage.
Earnhardt Jr. says he plans to take time away from the track and that he hopes to be cleared by Dr. Petty in time to drive in the Oct. 28 race at Martinsville Speedway, but made it clear that it will be left up to Dr. Petty.
Regan Smith will replace him in the No. 88 Chevrolet. Earnhardt will also end his streak of 461 consecutive starts, which is the fifth longest active streak in the Sprint Cup Series.
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Reggie's Take.com 