Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No.88 National Guard Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports suffered a concussion from the 25 car pile up at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday and won’t be racing this weekend at Charlotte Motor speedway, or the next weekend at Kansas.
Earnhardt Jr. had some feisty comments for reporters following the debacle on the last lap on Sunday, saying that if Daytona and Talladega were every weekend that he “would quit and find a new job.”
He also called fans “blood thirsty” for liking races that ended like Talladega did.
Yesterday, he came out and said he regretted some of those comments forgetting that they would be racing a brand new car in 2013, and the idea that it is suppose to handle better at the restrictor-plate tracks.
Earnhardt Jr. was diagnosed with a concussion Tuesday afternoon in Charlotte.
Regan Smith, who is suppose to be making his debut in the No.51 of Phoenix Racing this weekend will instead take over for Earnhardt Jr. in the No.88 for the next two weekends. [Allmendinger to take over seat of 51 car]
Earnhardt Jr. did not go to the infield care center following the race, reports say.
Earnhardt this season finally won his first race in 143-races. He had not won a race since 2008, and many believed he was in the best position in years to finally win his first Sprint Cup Series championship. His current position in the Chase for the Sprint Cup after leaving Talladega is 11th, and now missing those races Earnhardt Jr’s chances are all but officially over.
Earnhardt will also end his streak of 461 consecutive starts, which is the fifth longest active streak in the Sprint Cup Series.