NASCAR Earnhardt is cleared medically to return to racing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. was cleared by NASCAR on Wednesday to race this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, where he is seeking a record fifth consecutive victory.
Earnhardt sustained a minor concussion and sprained his right foot in a wreck Sunday in Dover, Del., and NASCAR required him to undergo a thorough physical before he could be cleared to race.
Earnhardt was examined Monday by neurosurgeon Dr. Jerry Petty and NASCAR reviewed the report Wednesday.
Working in Earnhardt's favor is his mastery of the 2.66-mile super-speedway, where he has won the past four Winston Cup events, as well as the Busch Series race there in April.
Hit into wall
Earnhardt was injured late in Sunday's race, crashing hard into the wall. He was briefly knocked out and taken to a local hospital for evaluation. He finished 37th in the race, and dropped from second to fourth in the Winston Cup standings.
NASCAR's policy of medically clearing a driver was put in place partially because of Earnhardt, who admitted last season he thought he had lingering effects of a concussion in several races.
Since then, NASCAR has required all drivers to receive written medical clearance from a doctor approved by sanctioning body before the driver can compete.