Andy Sullivan: Against the Grain

Thu, 04/27/2017 - 7:27am — Diane Dyer

Reaching The Finish Line

I’m writing this on Tuesday, just hours after Dale Earnhardt, Jr., my favorite racer, announced this 2017 season(his 18th) would be his last. Anyone who follows NASCAR understands. In reality, we saw this coming. He crashed hard in summer of 2016. It was announced that July that he was experiencing concussion-like symptoms. He said at first he thought he was suffering from severe allergies. He saw a family doctor and was prescribed allergy medication. “Because of my symptoms and my history with concussions, I decided to dig a little deeper”. He decided to sit out the next few races.

He sustained the concussion in a June 2016 crash. He previously suffered a concussion in 2012. He continued racing a few months after, not admitting until September he’d suffered a concussion. He suffered two concussions in 2012: October at Talladega and Kansas in August. He said those were the worst he’d experienced.

He recently said returning this season was a big risk. “Although I’m healthy, I’m still in danger, just like anyone out there racing, to get concussions”. He said he wanted to race until he didn’t enjoy it, then he’d find something else to do. Marriage changed his priorities. “Our wish to start a family one day soon changed a few things around for me and made me think about life differently”, he said in an interview with www.heavy.com.

I became an immediate fan of Dale Jr when he debuted in 1999. I’m sure I’m not alone. I was two years out of high school and thought he was pretty cool. Here was a guy only four years older than me who has a younger, fresher outlook than the norm, relatable to fans and can drive. So relatable to and loved by fans that he’s won most popular driver 14 times and is a shoo-in for #15, has 26 career Cup wins and is a 2-time champion of NASCAR’s second-tier series. He’s driven with Hendrick Motorsports since the nasty 2008 split with Dale Earnhardt, Inc, a team founded by his late father and run by his wicked, I mean his stepmother Theresa. In fact, after Sr’s death, his frosty relationship with said stepmother caused him to bolt from DEI and join Hendrick.

What will the future hold for Dale, Jr? That remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, NASCAR is going to look a lot different in 2018 and beyond. A fact in closing, next year will be the first in 42 years in NASCAR with no Earnhardt. Thanks for the memories, Dale. It’s been a pleasure watching you these past 18 years.