Dale Earnhardt Jr. to miss two more races
By Ted Fleming
Jeff Gordon to remain behind the wheel of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet at Watkins Glen and Bristol.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will continue to be sidelined with concussion-like symptoms and miss the next two races, according to a NASCAR report. Jeff Gordon will remain behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet as he will compete in the Cheez-It 355 at The Glen this Sunday and the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race the following Saturday.
Yesterday, Earnhardt gave a health update on his “The Dale Jr. Download” podcast saying his doctors believe his crash at Michigan on June 12 was the cause of his continued symptoms. He said, “The symptoms have sort of plateaued. There are days when I feel like that the balance is better and then there’s certainly moments when it’s not.”
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Regardless of his current plight, NASCAR’s most popular driver’s goal “is to race more,” although the longer he is out, the further he falls out of the Chase race.
According to a Hendrick Motorsports release, Earnhardt underwent further evaluation at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program and did not get the clearance to return to racing.
Meanwhile, Gordon has had finishes of 13th and Indianapolis and 27th at Pocono, and despite his own health issues with chronic back pain that led to his retirement, he will fill in the Earnhardt for his third and fourth straight events. He has pledged to help out car owner Rick Hendrick in any way he can.
Gordon, an experienced road course driver, has four victories at Watkins Glen and the constant left and right turns will truly test his ability to continue past the New York race.
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