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What they’re saying: Reaction to Dale Jr. news
By | Published: July 15, 2016 16
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By Pat DeCola
The news of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s decision to sit out the race weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway had the 'Magic Mile' buzzing on Friday.
Here's what drivers, teams and NASCAR officials are saying about Junior's concussion-like symptoms, his replacement for Sunday in driver Alex Bowman and the possibility that Jeff Gordon could suit up for Earnhardt next weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The news of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s decision to sit out the race weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway had the 'Magic Mile' buzzing on Friday.
Here's what drivers, teams and NASCAR officials are saying about Junior's concussion-like symptoms, his replacement for Sunday in driver Alex Bowman and the possibility that Jeff Gordon could suit up for Earnhardt next weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Rick Hendrick, team owner:
'Dale is special to me, taking the driving part away. I just want him to feel good when he gets back in the car. I don't want him to push himself. He's kind of an ironman, he doesn't want to let the team down, he doesn't want to let his fans down. But we need him for the long haul and he wants to be in the car. The best thing the doctors can do is go through all the protocol and do all the tests, and there's a bunch … to do. When they say 'you’re good to go,' he'll be back.
'Dale is special to me, taking the driving part away. I just want him to feel good when he gets back in the car. I don't want him to push himself. He's kind of an ironman, he doesn't want to let the team down, he doesn't want to let his fans down. But we need him for the long haul and he wants to be in the car. The best thing the doctors can do is go through all the protocol and do all the tests, and there's a bunch … to do. When they say 'you’re good to go,' he'll be back.
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Rick Hendrick, team owner:
'I'm very hopeful and he's very hopeful and I think the doctors want to err on the side of being sure. We want him for a long time. He loves the fans, he loves the sport, he loves to race and we love him in the organization. I'm proud of him.'
'I'm very hopeful and he's very hopeful and I think the doctors want to err on the side of being sure. We want him for a long time. He loves the fans, he loves the sport, he loves to race and we love him in the organization. I'm proud of him.'
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Ryan Newman:
'The news, I think, kind of came as a shock from my standpoint because it was after a weekend that (Earnhardt) really only thought he had sinus troubles. In fact, I was actually texting him back about trying different kinds of honey because that is what my wife uses. It's kind of like, here I go talking to a guy about trying different honey and he is out of the race car the next week.'
'The news, I think, kind of came as a shock from my standpoint because it was after a weekend that (Earnhardt) really only thought he had sinus troubles. In fact, I was actually texting him back about trying different kinds of honey because that is what my wife uses. It's kind of like, here I go talking to a guy about trying different honey and he is out of the race car the next week.'
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Kyle Busch:
'It is certainly not a good thing that Dale (Earnhardt Jr.) is not able to race and certainly I've sent my regards, but it's a tough subject. It's about how you're feeling and you're the only one that knows how you're feeling. You can't show these types of injuries as well as you can a broken bone or something to that respect.'
'It is certainly not a good thing that Dale (Earnhardt Jr.) is not able to race and certainly I've sent my regards, but it's a tough subject. It's about how you're feeling and you're the only one that knows how you're feeling. You can't show these types of injuries as well as you can a broken bone or something to that respect.'
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Doug Duchardt, GM at Hendrick Motorsports:
'As far as Jeff Gordon's situation, certainly he's a four-time champion with 93 wins; he's not a bad person to think about to put in the car. This week he's in France. And obviously the way the week went, we didn't even think we were going to need a replacement driver. We just thought we were going to need a backup driver. However, if Dale is not able to go to Indianapolis, we will put Jeff Gordon in the car.'
'As far as Jeff Gordon's situation, certainly he's a four-time champion with 93 wins; he's not a bad person to think about to put in the car. This week he's in France. And obviously the way the week went, we didn't even think we were going to need a replacement driver. We just thought we were going to need a backup driver. However, if Dale is not able to go to Indianapolis, we will put Jeff Gordon in the car.'
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Alex Bowman, replacement driver:
'Yeah, it's been a crazy 12 hours for sure. I think the first time Greg (Ives) called me I was at work, so I didn't even answer. But it's definitely not the circumstances that I want to get an opportunity like this. But obviously I'm hoping Dale feels better, but at the same time it's the best opportunity I've ever had in my life.'
'Yeah, it's been a crazy 12 hours for sure. I think the first time Greg (Ives) called me I was at work, so I didn't even answer. But it's definitely not the circumstances that I want to get an opportunity like this. But obviously I'm hoping Dale feels better, but at the same time it's the best opportunity I've ever had in my life.'
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Greg Ives, crew chief:
'Really the first thing that comes to mind has nothing to do with championship, wins or the racing side of it. It's always understanding what Dale is going through, which I can't because I have never been through that, but just making sure that he gets better, supporting him and his decision. It takes a lot to come out and address some of the health concerns that he had. I really commend him for that.'
'Really the first thing that comes to mind has nothing to do with championship, wins or the racing side of it. It's always understanding what Dale is going through, which I can't because I have never been through that, but just making sure that he gets better, supporting him and his decision. It takes a lot to come out and address some of the health concerns that he had. I really commend him for that.'
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Ty Dillon:
When Dale Jr. makes a decision in our sport, it's always widely (impactful) because young drivers such as myself look up to him so much. I think it was a special move on his part. He's been in the sport for a long time. To kind of take the lead and say ... 'I don't feel right,' and he goes to the doctor, they tell him not to get in the race car and he takes that step, that's so hard. To take his health first and as a leader of our sport, it's huge. I really respect Dale's decision.
When Dale Jr. makes a decision in our sport, it's always widely (impactful) because young drivers such as myself look up to him so much. I think it was a special move on his part. He's been in the sport for a long time. To kind of take the lead and say ... 'I don't feel right,' and he goes to the doctor, they tell him not to get in the race car and he takes that step, that's so hard. To take his health first and as a leader of our sport, it's huge. I really respect Dale's decision.
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Doug Duchardt, GM at Hendrick Motorsports:
'I think Dale has become more aware (of concussion symptoms) over the years and I think to his credit and I think this is important, and I think I've heard this in some of the dialogue since the announcement. The only person that knows how you feel is yourself.'
'I think Dale has become more aware (of concussion symptoms) over the years and I think to his credit and I think this is important, and I think I've heard this in some of the dialogue since the announcement. The only person that knows how you feel is yourself.'
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Carl Edwards:
'I don't know any details about it, but I can say first thing that my thoughts are with Dale (Earnhardt Jr.). For him to step out of the race car, it must be something serious. I hope he recovers quickly and second I have a lot of respect for making the decision, I can't imagine how tough that decision would be. Right now with the (Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup) format, you do have the opportunity to take care of yourself, do what you think is right and still have a shot at the championship.'
'I don't know any details about it, but I can say first thing that my thoughts are with Dale (Earnhardt Jr.). For him to step out of the race car, it must be something serious. I hope he recovers quickly and second I have a lot of respect for making the decision, I can't imagine how tough that decision would be. Right now with the (Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup) format, you do have the opportunity to take care of yourself, do what you think is right and still have a shot at the championship.'
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Joey Logano:
'I think when I am away and not in the race car, in the shop and talking about that stuff, it is something you should talk about. Your safety and your life is something you should put some thought into. As I get older I think about that stuff more often and don’t do as many crazy things away from the race track as I used to. I think you just become smarter.'
'I think when I am away and not in the race car, in the shop and talking about that stuff, it is something you should talk about. Your safety and your life is something you should put some thought into. As I get older I think about that stuff more often and don’t do as many crazy things away from the race track as I used to. I think you just become smarter.'
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Kyle Larson:
'Hat's off to Junior for making that choice to sit this weekend out and kind of work on getting himself better. It's a new and cool opportunity for Alex Bowman. You hate to see it be of that nature, but NASCAR does a great job with making these cars safer and safer. We have some good doctors we can all go see if we are not feeling right. We have impact tests and things like that to make sure we are 100 percent. Obviously he knew something was wrong and he took the actions upon himself to go see doctors and ultimately sit this weekend out. So, I hope he gets better soon.'
'Hat's off to Junior for making that choice to sit this weekend out and kind of work on getting himself better. It's a new and cool opportunity for Alex Bowman. You hate to see it be of that nature, but NASCAR does a great job with making these cars safer and safer. We have some good doctors we can all go see if we are not feeling right. We have impact tests and things like that to make sure we are 100 percent. Obviously he knew something was wrong and he took the actions upon himself to go see doctors and ultimately sit this weekend out. So, I hope he gets better soon.'
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Brad Keselowski:
'Dale is a friend. … I would say that I am disappointed for him and I am sure he is disappointed as well but I also understand what he was thinking in terms of having a lot of life to live outside of this world right here. Sometimes that is really easy to forget. Sometimes I forget that. I think sometimes we all forget that because we are so focused on what we are trying to do. That is not always a bad thing. I am hoping everything works out for him. We want to see him back. I like racing against him. I am hoping he will be back next week.'
'Dale is a friend. … I would say that I am disappointed for him and I am sure he is disappointed as well but I also understand what he was thinking in terms of having a lot of life to live outside of this world right here. Sometimes that is really easy to forget. Sometimes I forget that. I think sometimes we all forget that because we are so focused on what we are trying to do. That is not always a bad thing. I am hoping everything works out for him. We want to see him back. I like racing against him. I am hoping he will be back next week.'
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Jimmie Johnson:
'More than anything just again, am proud of him to recognize that he doesn't feel right and to say something about it. ... It is very difficult for me to comment because I know what I have been through and I don't know what he has been through. Again, I think and it started right away when the news came out how everybody was happy that he said something about it. He is going to go through great lengths to make sure he understands what is going on and try to if at all possible address it and try to improve that situation so he is not so sensitive to it in the future.'
'More than anything just again, am proud of him to recognize that he doesn't feel right and to say something about it. ... It is very difficult for me to comment because I know what I have been through and I don't know what he has been through. Again, I think and it started right away when the news came out how everybody was happy that he said something about it. He is going to go through great lengths to make sure he understands what is going on and try to if at all possible address it and try to improve that situation so he is not so sensitive to it in the future.'
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Tony Stewart:
'I think Dale has been one of the guys on the concussion side that's really been a leader in that side, and you hate to see this happen to anybody, but like was said earlier, it takes a pretty strong guy to say, hey, something is not right, and to say I need to get something looked at.'
'I think Dale has been one of the guys on the concussion side that's really been a leader in that side, and you hate to see this happen to anybody, but like was said earlier, it takes a pretty strong guy to say, hey, something is not right, and to say I need to get something looked at.'