By Carly Signor
Almost two weeks
ago, Hendrick Motorsports announced that the sport’s most popular driver, Dale
Earnhardt Jr., would be sitting out the next two races due to concussions
received at a tire test at Kansas, and a crash on the last lap of Talladega’s
fall race.
“A lot of guys would try to play hurt,” team owner Rick
Hendrick said at a press conference.
“But when the doctor tells you if you get hit again like that right
away, it could be catastrophic, you need to listen.”
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| AP Photo/ Autostock, Brian Czobat |
Regan Smith, who recently lost his seat in the No. 78
Furniture Row Chevrolet to Kurt Busch, was named to replace Jr. at the
following two races: Charlotte and Kansas.
“[I’m] very excited
for the opportunity to get in the 88,” Smith tweeted. “Hate the circumstances for Dale Jr. though. Hope he has a
safe and speedy recovery.”
Smith went on to
qualify 26th for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
before finishing eighth in the series’ final practice. During the race, Smith charged up to
the Top 10 before an engine failure on lap 61 ended his day.
The team put the
disappointing Charlotte finish behind them as they moved on to qualify 39th
for the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. But once again, Smith rebounded in final practice to finish
second. He took that speed into
the race on Sunday and claimed a Top 10 with a finish of seventh.
On Sunday, it
appeared that Earnhardt Jr. had been cleared to return to racing at
Martinsville this coming weekend, but that wasn’t the case. However, after testing on Monday,
NASCAR cleared Earnhardt Jr. to race.
"Dale Jr. has
done everything asked of him," Earnhardt Jr.’s doctor said in a Hendrick
Motorsports release. "He hasn't had a headache since Oct. 12, and we have not been able
to provoke any symptoms since that time. I have informed NASCAR and
Hendrick Motorsports that he is medically cleared for all NASCAR-related
activity."
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