In stepping away for the rest of the Sprint Cup season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. puts the focus on his health rather than competition.
Reactions came almost immediately to the news that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will not race for the rest of the Sprint Cup season due to concussion-like symptoms. NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver has missed six races and will miss the remaining dozen after doctors couldn’t clear him to return. Junior believes he suffered the concussion in a crash at Michigan on June 12, but raced through Kentucky. He has been out since.
Really hate it for @DaleJr ....I know he was hoping to be back in the car before '17. Prayers for a speedy recovery https://t.co/FMDJpagi9s
— Justin Allgaier (@J_Allgaier) September 2, 2016
Earnhardt also received good wishes from a couple of teams.
#TheChase won't be the same without you, @DaleJr! Focus on getting better. https://t.co/TtXX8neMs2
— FalciAdaptiveMotorsports (@FalciAdaptive) September 2, 2016
Get well soon @DaleJr! Here's to a full recovery.
— JTG Daugherty Racing (@JTGRacing) September 2, 2016
In his press conference at Darlington this afternoon, Jamie McMurray was asked how Earnhardt’s absence will impact the sport.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I will tell you the part that is super scary on top of the medical side of it. When Dale, Jr. is the most popular driver in our sport and you don’t show up to the track for two or three weeks, not that you are forgotten, but it’s crazy how things move on. I don’t know that any of us knew what to expect or how that was going to go, but I don’t know how to say that and to be like correct. I think that we just have to wait and see kind of what happens with Dale, Jr. He is iconic and he is obviously the most popular guy, but it will move on and it will continue to be a great form of auto racing in the United States.”
Next: Best NASCAR Championship Seasons
Alex Bowman, who will take over for Earnhardt for eight of the final dozen events, also chimed in.
Earnhardt has been undergoing treatment for his symptoms and is regularly evaluated at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program under the direction of Dr. Micky Collins and with Charlotte neurosurgeon Dr. Jerry Petty. Through a release from Hendrick Motorsports, Junior issued the following statement:
“I wish I could return to the No. 88 team this season,” Earnhardt said, in the release. “To say I’m disappointed doesn’t begin to describe how I feel, but I know this is the right thing for my long-term health and career. I’m 100 percent focused on my recovery, and I will continue to follow everything the doctors tell me. They’re seeing good progress in my test results, and I’m feeling that progress physically. I plan to be healthy and ready to compete at Daytona in February. I’m working toward that.”
“The support from both inside and outside the race team has been overwhelming. Everyone has been so encouraging and positive, from my teammates and sponsors to my family, friends and fans. It’s motivating and humbling at the same time.”
Fans have also reacted to the news.
https://twitter.com/OasisMountain/status/771706078820130816
https://twitter.com/shelbbbybee/status/771707420733280256
Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for Junior.