NASCAR races are the very definition of pulse-pounding excitement. But with that thrill comes the undeniable risk of accidents, scrapes, and sometimes even severe injuries. On occasion, these mishaps can escalate to a point where they threaten a racer’s health, or in tragic cases, even their life, as with the heart-wrenching loss of Dale Earnhardt. Before fully grasping the gravity of such risks, especially the devastating loss of his father in an on-track accident, Dale Earnhardt Jr. admittedly didn’t always prioritize safety.

Shockingly, even between 2012 and 2016, he often concealed his injuries just to stay behind the wheel. In a recent candid chat with Jamie McMurray, Dale Jr. opened up about a time when he regrettably underestimated the seriousness of concussions.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. once used to joke about concussions

As a seasoned NASCAR driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has faced his fair share of thrills and spills, tallying up an astonishing over 20 concussions during his almost two-decade-long career. In late 2012, during a practice run, he suffered a significant concussion. After this jarring experience, Dale described feelings of being imprisoned in his own mind, bouts of claustrophobia, overwhelming nausea, and sheer panic. Just when he thought he was on the mend, a massive 25-car pileup during a race in October dealt him another traumatic blow, leading to even more pronounced concussion symptoms.

These new ailments weren’t just physical; Dale began to notice shifts in his mood, heightened anxiety, and aggressive outbursts. His vision blurred, and that feeling of being trapped grew more intense. Yet, despite all these warning signs, Dale kept pushing on, downplaying the severity of his injuries.

In a recent heart-to-heart on a podcast with Jimmie McMurray, Dale opened up about his earlier, more nonchalant attitude towards concussions. He recalled, “When I had my first couple of concussions, man, you’d laugh. Yeah. I wrecked it the day I wrecked at Daytona in 98. And I got dizzy, chuckled, and said, Man, I’m messed up. You know, it was funny for some reason, which is silly, you know. Well, I thought, Oh, someday I’ll be good. I’ll be fine. I’m good. This’ll be two or three days at most.” That cavalier attitude led him to repeatedly brush off his injuries, leaving many untreated out of fear of being sidelined from NASCAR.

As a result, fate ultimately hit him hard. In 2017, after a major accident during the Daytona race, Dale was forced into early retirement. On two significant occasions, concussion-related symptoms benched him, making him miss crucial races in 2012 and almost half the 2016 season. Ironically, the Daytona track, which had been the site of many of Dale’s injuries, was also where he tragically lost his father.

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During their poignant discussion, Jamie McMurray also chimed in with his personal experiences, shedding light on the harrowing effects of concussions in the world of racing.

Jamie McMurray candidly discusses his concussion and the subsequent implementation of NASCAR’s concussion protocols

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Reflecting on a harrowing incident at Dover, Jamie McMurray recounted the moment he lost his bearings after a crash, admitting, “Matter of fact, I wrecked at Dover late in my career. And I hit the wall where there was no safer barrier. And I remember hitting the wall. And I’m like, I don’t know where I am. And my car stopped, but I hit the wall like kind of flushed. So my car, didn’t look that torn up. And I was like, I’m not real sure where I am.” This pivotal moment played a significant role in NASCAR’s decision to implement strict concussion protocols.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s approach to handling injuries, however, wasn’t exactly textbook. The day he confided in his boss, Rick Hendrick, about possibly not being fit to drive and having a backup plan, Hendrick didn’t mince his words. He exclaimed, “Are you crazy? Why are you not already talking to the doctor? Get your a** to the doctor and figure out what the hell this is.”

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While accidents and injuries remain an inherent risk in the sport, it’s heartening to note that NASCAR’s enhanced safety measures have made the track considerably safer for drivers in recent years.