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NASCAR: Top Stories of the Week Heading into Daytona

By Trevor Grasso

Feb 26, 2017; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) and Chase Elliott (24) during the 2017 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2017; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) and Chase Elliott (24) during the 2017 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 17, 2016; Loudon, NH, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Aric Almirola (43) is introduced before the New Hampshire 301 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 17, 2016; Loudon, NH, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Aric Almirola (43) is introduced before the New Hampshire 301 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Aric Almirola cleared for on-track testing

Aric Almirola went in for a routine check-up and scans in Charlotte earlier this week. It was at that time when medical personnel cleared him for on-track testing. Almirola will still need to be cleared the NASCAR’s medical team before he can return to competition.

Clearance from NASCAR is expected to come once everything checks out following an upcoming on-track test. There has been no date set for this testing session, but it is expected to happen sometime in July.

Back in May, Almirola was involved in a wreck at Kansas. He was pulled out of his car and airlifted to a local hospital. It was later revealed that he had suffered a compression fracture of the T5 vertebra. Since the injury, Richard Petty Motorsports has had a few different drivers fill in for Almirola in the No. 43. Darrell Wallace Jr. will make his third start in the No. 43 this weekend at Daytona.

June 25, 2017; Sonoma, CA, USA; Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) during the Toyota – Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
June 25, 2017; Sonoma, CA, USA; Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) during the Toyota – Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Dale Earnhardt Jr. making his last Daytona start in the No. 88

The farewell tour continues for Dale Earnhardt Jr. This week, he will make his final start at Daytona as the full-time driver of the No. 88. Dale Jr. will vacate his seat in the No. 88 after this season as he is set to retire this fall. However, Dale Jr. has not ruled out running at Daytona in the future.

Dale Jr. has made it very clear he is retiring from full-time racing. But if the circumstances are right, he just may run in a Cup car in the future, particularly for the Daytona 500. He has also stated his intentions to run a select few XFINITY Series races in the future.

Nevertheless, this is still his last ride at Daytona as a regular. It is no secret Dale Jr. loves Daytona. He has four career wins on the superspeedway, which include two 500 wins and two summer race wins. His most recent victory here came in the Summer race of 2015. JR Nation will be in full force cheering their boy on to take one last victory lap around Daytona.

Next: Buy or Sell: Danica to XFINITY Series?

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