NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. yesterday detailed the concussion-like symptoms that kept him out of Sunday's race in New Hampshire, telling listeners on his podcast, "The Dale Jr. Download," that he has been "battling balance issues and nausea," according to Jeff Gluck of USA TODAY. Hendrick Motorsports said that a decision on Earnhardt's status for Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be "made by the middle of the week, but Earnhardt indicated on the podcast that his recovery might take time." Earnhardt said, "I'm going to continue to work with my doctors and understand more about the injury and how to treat it. They can give me a lot of exercise to retain my brain to handle what I need to handle." He added, "It's just going to take a lot of patience. I put my health and quality of life as a top priority, and I'll always do that. I'm going to take this slow and strictly follow the advice of my doctors" (USA TODAY, 7/19). NBCSN's Nate Ryan said Earnhardt "really has set the tone for how drivers will do this in the future." Ryan: "He's very much a leader on that front and I think drivers are looking to what he's done here and see it as a template for how they would treat it" ("NASCAR America," NBCSN, 7/15). NBCSN's Kyle Petty said, "Dale Jr. has done an incredible thing. ... That will lead to more guys in the garage that are young drivers ... following that lead, so you have to salute Dale Jr." NBCSN's Dale Jarrett: "Not only is it the right thing for Dale Jr., but it is going to open up a lot of eyes out there and that is a big thing" ("NASCAR America Sunday," NBC, 7/17).
TAKING THE RIGHT APPROACH: In Orlando, George Diaz wrote to give Earnhardt "credit for getting out in front of this and being pro-active." NASCAR needs Earnhardt because he is a "rain-maker for the sport" and he "moves the needle more than anybody else." Hendrick Motorsports needs him to "keep up with the stronger teams in the garage right now, Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing." Fans need him because he "connects the dots to the sport's iconic history." But just as important, Earnhardt needs to "look in the mirror and choose self-preservation if matters spiral downward" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/18).
