Earnhardt is racing because he wants to
NASCAR’s most popular driver returns to Daytona after concussions.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. is free and clear from the haze of concussion-related symptoms that threatened to end his career.
The road back was arduous, painful and often introspective.
“There was a lot of times during the recovery when I was 90% sure I was going to drive again,” he said. “There was days when it was 50%. It was moving all over the place depending on how I felt that day.”
In an expansive interview with a handful of NASCAR reporters at Daytona International Speedway early Saturday evening, Earnhardt let loose on details about the struggles on his return to racing following multiple concussions, his contract situation with Hendrick Motorsports and the therapeutic healing support of his wife, Amy.
He missed 18 races with concussion-related symptoms. It was not the first time things got bumpy in his career. He counts four concussions during his racing career dating back to 1998, which probably includes some incidents in which he managed to avoid a diagnosis.
He’s done the math, and understands the ramifications.
“I’m not going to race other than any other reason that I want to be out there,” he said. “I don’t think it’s very smart to do it for any other reason. There are motivations to race. Fans and camaraderie and all the great things you get to experience, but if I’m going to come back I’m going to be racing because I want to be out there.”
Earnhardt, 42, is in his last year of his contract with Hendrick Motorsports but wants to defer any negotiations until he is certain he has cleared all his health issues. He does not anticipate any logistical hiccups otherwise.
“I want to get some races under my belt and get confidence in my health before I can commit to him,” Earnhardt said. “I don’t want to make a promise I can’t deliver on. Once I feel I am good and think I can withstand the wear and tear of driving these cars a couple more years, I’m ready to do it.”
Junior did not plan to race in the Advance Auto Parts Clash Saturday night, deferring to Alex Bowman, who subbed for him for 10 races. The Clash was moved to Sunday morning because of rain that hit Daytona Saturday night. Bowman will be one of 17 drivers to qualify for the non-points sprint race after securing the Phoenix pole last November.
“I don’t think I’m deserving to be in the race because I think it should be strictly pole winners,” Earnhardt said. “So when Alex got it, he trumped me. I like the fact that he’s in our car with our guys. Anything to give him the opportunity to showcase what he can do.” But no worries. Junior is in his happy place: Daytona International Speedway.
“I’m so comfortable here coming back to the race track for the first time,” he said. “This is probably the best place to be coming back.”
The restrictor-plate madness is always in play, which brings in the possibility of the Big One. It’s not quite like a football player needing to take a hit after recuperating from an injury to get through the jitters, but Junior braces for impact, whether it is here or somewhere else.
“I don’t want to wreck in order to quantify my recovery,” he said. “But should that happen and I come back on the other side feeling great that will add a ton of confidence. I can’t sit here and say exactly how I am going to react to those situations.
“When I go through that process there will be a box or two to check that I haven’t checked yet.”