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Dale Earnhardt Jr. provided a health update Saturday morning from his Twitter account, saying the concussion-like symptoms that have forced him to miss three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races "have plateaued over the last week."
Earnhardt has been sidelined since the team's announcement July 14 about his condition. Alex Bowman and Jeff Gordon have split time driving his Hendrick Motorsport No. 88 Chevrolet in the interim.
Earnhardt said in Tuesday's edition of the "Dale Jr. Download" podcast on Dirty Mo Radio that he was heeding the advice of doctors in taking a slow course of recovery, saying that concussion-related ailments were not conditions that he could "race through" on the track. He reiterated that Saturday, tweeting that his physicians were "preaching patience."
Four-time series champ Gordon, who raced his entire career with Hendrick Motorsports, emerged from retirement last weekend at Indianapolis as a substitute. Gordon is back in the No. 88 Chevy at least through this weekend at Pocono Raceway for Monday's Pennsylvania 400 (11 a.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM).
Earnhardt said in his podcast that he would have an update on his condition after a Monday visit with doctors. He indicated that would help the Hendrick organization determine its plans for next weekend's Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International.
The team has said that there is no firm timetable for Earnhardt's return to competition. Gordon said Friday at Pocono that he would serve as an interim driver for as long as the team needed him.
Should Gordon return next weekend at Watkins Glen, it would mark his 800th Sprint Cup start.