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• NASCAR writer for ESPN.com
• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year
• Much more compared to 25 years experience covering motorsports
LOUDON, N.H. — Rick Hendrick does not believe the concussion symptoms went through by Dale Earnhardt Jr. will certainly be career-ending for the sport’s the majority of popular driver.
Earnhardt, that announced Thursday he could not race this weekend break at Brand-new Hampshire Motor Speedway as a result of the symptoms, missed two races in 2012 as a result of concussions.
The 41-year-old Earnhardt believes crashes June 12 at Michigan and July 2 at Daytona possibly caused the symptoms, which he initially believed were from serious allergies or a sinus infection.
Rick Hendrick says he does not believe the concussion symptoms that sidelined Dale Earnhardt Jr. are career-threatening, and he hopes to have actually NASCAR’s the majority of popular driver spine in the Vehicle next week at the Brickyard. Jeff Curry/Getty Images
“He and I talked regarding years beyond next year merely about Daytona,” Hendrick said Sunday afternoon at Brand-new Hampshire, referring to Earnhardt’s contract ending in 2017. “If there was something significant wrong, I believe they would certainly have actually seen it already.
“I’m fairly hopeful and he’s fairly hopeful. I believe the doctors wish to err on the edge of being sure. We want your man for a long time.”
Alex Bowman replaced Earnhardt at Brand-new Hampshire, and Jeff Gordon will certainly come from retirement if Earnhardt cannot compete July 22-24 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hendrick said the four-time Mug champ Gordon, that moved from racing to the Fox Sports booth after last season, could do Much more races.
“Hopefully Dale is heading to be spine next week and it’s not also something we believe is heading to happen,” Hendrick said. “Jeff is a group user and wishes to assist the organization, and I’m sure he’ll do whatever he has actually to do.”
Hendrick said he was hectic lining up an ear, nose and throat doctor for Earnhardt last week prior to Earnhardt’s visit to the neurologist indicated he must sit out Brand-new Hampshire.
“He’s operating through a bunch of tests, and he’s heading to have actually some Much more examinations the very first of the week,” Hendrick said. “He’s carrying out good. He wishes to be in the car. The doctors are heading to tell your man as soon as it’s OK for your man to be back.
“I understand he’s anxious, and we want your man spine as quickly as the doctors provide clearance.”
Hendrick said he didn’t observe anything wrong along with Earnhardt after Michigan to believe he was suffering from a concussion. He said he doesn’t understand if any type of of his drivers are hurt unless they tell him, and the very first he heard of the symptoms was last week. He said he believes the drivers do the ideal thing and allow the groups understand if they are hurting.
“I’ve had sufficient sinus infections and as soon as you’re taking medication for that, you don’t feel 100 percent,” Hendrick said. “That was it.”
For Earnhardt to be eligible for a Hunt for the Sprint Mug berth, he would certainly demand a waiver to have actually missed a race throughout the normal season. It is expected he would certainly Get hold of one, however Hendrick said he hasn’t also applied for one yet as the focus remains on Earnhardt’s health.
“He’s type of an iron man — he doesn’t wish to allow the group down, he doesn’t wish to allow his supporters down,” Hendrick said. “We demand your man for the long pull. He wishes to be in the car. however the very best thing the doctors can easily do is go through all of the protocol and do all of the tests, and there’s a bunch of tests.
“as soon as they say, ‘You’re great to go,’ he’ll be back.”
The group currently had Bowman in position as a backup for Brand-new Hampshire and stuck along with that strategy to sustain your man as the complete replacement driver. Gordon, that is still an equity owner in Hendrick Motorsports, joined France last week as soon as Hendrick called him.
“He believed I was kidding at first,” Hendrick said. “He was on vacation and I asked your man exactly what he was carrying out and he said, ‘I’ll be in Indy.’ … I said, ‘Delivering your driver’s uniform merely in case.’
“He said, ‘Are you kidding?’ I said, ‘No, I’m serious.'”