NASCAR: A Timeline Of Dale Jr.’s Concussion Struggles

2012

The 2012 NASCAR season marked the start of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s issues with concussions.

On August 29th Earnhardt Jr. wrecked during a tire test at Kansas and the result was a concussion. Earnhardt Jr. would remain in the No. 88 machine after that wreck and battle through the symptoms. Six weeks later Earnhardt Jr. took to the track at Talladega where he was involved in a last-lap wreck which resulted in another concussion.

In an article on NASCAR.com, Earnhardt Jr. talks about how he experienced vertigo during that wreck and later consulted specialists to get treatment.

The second concussion in a six-week span resulted in Earnhardt missing two races towards the end of the 2012 season. While away from the No. 88 machine Earnhardt Jr. was able to recover and become well enough to get back on the track. The concussions suffered in 2012 were actually the second and third of his racing career with the first coming back in 2002.

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