Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SportS
Monday 30 october 2017
Earnhardt interested in penning book on concussion recovery

By JENNA FRYER and my experiences last
AP Auto Racing Writer year trying to get well and
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) — then coming back and
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s to-do running this final season,”
list during retirement con- Earnhardt said. “I think it’s
tinues to grow. NASCAR’s a bit assuming to think that
most popular driver is in- well you just write a book
terested in writing a book anytime you want or about
about his recovery from anything, but I think that
multiple concussions. would be a good read.
Earnhardt has four races “There is a little bit deeper
left before he retires from that the story goes that
full-time competition. I think people would be
He’ll compete Sunday at interested in, and the in-
Martinsville Speedway, terest for me there is if it
which donated $10,000 would help someone going
to Patrick Henry Commu- through the same experi-
nity College to start the ence that I went through.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Honor- Earnhardt is quickly filling his
ary Scholarship Motorsports schedule for next year, his
program. first in retirement.
This scholarship is to help He and wife Amy are ex-
students at the college Dale Earnhardt Jr. waits for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, pecting their first child, a
who are in the PHCC mo- Kan., Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. daughter, and he’s com-
torsports program further Associated Press mitted as an analyst to NBC
their education and ulti- $100,000 to establish the noted that he’d done Earnhardt missed the sec- Sports for the second half
mately reach their goals Dale Earnhardt Jr. Con- “Driver No. 8” with author ond half of last season be- of the season.
of working in motorsports. cussion Research Fund at Jade Gurss that chronicled cause of concussion symp- Earnhardt also has races
Earnhardt has asked tracks the Carolinas Healthcare his meteoric rise to fame as toms, and he’s said he will scheduled in the Xfinity Se-
to make his retirement gifts System’s Levine Children’s a rookie. donate his brain to science ries for JR Motorsports.
impactful gestures for local Hospital in Charlotte. Now, his main interest for concussion-related re- He’s promised to continue
communities. Asked Saturday if he con- would be in helping others search. his work as an ambassador
Charlotte Motor Speedway sidered writing a book who have suffered head “I have interest in writing a for NASCAR past his driving
earlier this month donated about his career, Earnhardt injuries. book about my recovery days.q
Martinsville was not intentional the bump Busch out of his way
way it turned out but I am to grab the automatic
responsible for my own car berth.
and take blame. Nothing I “I don’t know that I would
Continued from Page 18
say now can turn back the have done anything differ-
clock.” ently,” Truex said. “I think
“There was kind of chaos
ensuing and none of it was Hamlin faded to seventh we can get to Homestead
our fault, we just came after Busch bumped him without making too many
out on the right end of the for the win. enemies. We’ll let every-
stick.” “That was our chance to body else fight and we’ll
Keselowski was in position move to Homestead,” try to do our own thing.”
to win when Joey Logano Busch shrugged. Clint Bowyer, not eligible
developed a tire problem Keselowski wound up for the playoffs, finished
with about 10 laps remain- fourth in a race his team third. Kevin Harvick was
ing in regulation. Had his believed he had to win. fifth in a Ford, Ryan Blaney
Team Penske teammate Kyle Busch, center, celebrates under the lights after winning Instead, he was simply eighth for the Wood Broth-
pitted under green to fix the NASCAR Cup series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in darting his way around a ers of nearby Stuart, Virgin-
the tire, Keselowski likely Martinsville, Va., Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017. huge pileup on the final ia, and the manufacturer
would have coasted to Associated Press lap that ended an emo- placed six drivers in the top
the win and earned the race winner to 27th, low- nity to go straight to Home- tional opening race of the 10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was
spot in the finale. est of the eight remaining stead and because of him third round of the playoffs. the highest-finishing Chev-
Instead, Logano spun and playoff drivers. we don’t.” “Yeah, everybody is just rolet driver in 11th and was
brought out a caution. “My mom always said if Elliott could repeatedly be desperate,” Keselowski dumbfounded by the last-
Keselowski was moved out you don’t have anything seen saying ‘You wrecked said. Martin Truex Jr. wound lap chaos.
of the way by Elliott after nice to say, don’t say any- me,’ to Hamlin as the up second in a 1-2 sweep “Man, I can’t believe how
a restart, and Hamlin then thing at all,” Elliott said. crowd roared its approval for Toyota, which has won everybody crossed the fin-
spun Elliott out of the lead “He’s not worth my time. over the tension. Hamlin at six of the seven playoff rac- ish line. I ain’t seen noth-
with two laps remaining in I got punted from behind first defended his actions es. Truex and Busch have ing like that, I ain’t seen it,
regulation. Elliott wrecked, and wrecked in Turn 3 because of the stakes, but won three playoff races I don’t know if I ever have
chased Hamlin down on leading the race. I don’t later apologized to Elliott each, while Keselowski seen it,” Earnhardt said.
the cool-down lap to show know what his problem on social media. won in the second round. “There was a wreck one
his displeasure, and the was. It was unnecessary “I’ve raced nearly 10,000 The favorite to win the time at Richmond before
drivers had a heated ex- and I hadn’t raced him races since I was 7. Today title, Truex said he is confi- they ever reconfigured it in
change after they climbed dirty all day long. was the first time I ever spun dent enough he will make the Xfinity race on the front
from their cars. “We had the best car I’ve out the leader,” Hamlin it to next month’s finale at straightaway in like 1982 —
It was a disastrous result ever had here at Martins- wrote on Twitter. “I regret Homestead-Miami Speed- that is the only thing I ever
for Elliott — from potential ville, and had an opportu- the outcome because it way without having to seen like it. Crazy finish.” q