Dale Earnhardt Jr. injury timeline

After rehabilitating from a concussion and its lingering symptoms, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was medically cleared on Thursday, Dec. 8, to compete in NASCAR's premier series in 2017. He will return to driving duties in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at the Feb. 26 Daytona 500. | Read more

Junior will sit out final 12 races of 2016

Hendrick Motorsports announced Sept. 2 that Dale Earnhardt Jr. would sit out the remainder of the 2016 season after missing six races with concussion-like symptoms. "To say I'm disappointed doesn't begin to describe how I feel," Earnhardt Jr. said in a press release. "But I know this is the right thing for my long-term health and career. I'm 100 percent focused on my recovery, and I will continue to follow everything the doctors tell me." | Read more 

Dale Jr. out for Michigan and Darlington

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will miss the next two races at Michigan and Darlington as he has not been cleared by physicians to return to compete. Alex Bowman will field the No. 88 Chevrolet at Michigan, while Jeff Gordon will return for Darlington. | Read more

Junior details rehab on social media

Dale Earnhardt Jr. took to Twitter to discuss the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol and then provided some updates on his rehab and its progress on Instagram. | Read more

Junior: 'I'm not ready to stop racing'

Dale Earnhardt Jr. speaks publicly for the first time since he was ruled out for races at Watkins Glen and Bristol because of concussion-related symptoms. He says he's taking it one (medical) evaluaton at a time and has no plans to hang 'em up on his Sprint Cup Series career. | Read more

Dale Jr. targets contract extension

Dale Earnhardt Jr. says that prior to suffering concussion-related symptoms and missing races he was talking to Hendrick Motorsports about a possible contract extension. The driver expressed a desire to re-open those talks. | Read more

Gordon to pilot No. 88 at Watkins Glen, Bristol

Jeff Gordon will be back behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports at Watkins Glen and Bristol as Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains sidelined. Read more

Dale Jr. provides update, explains process

Dale Earnhardt Jr. discusses the latest on his recovery, including why he has been so open about the entire protocol and process on his concussion-like symptoms and his plans to race more. Read more 

Junior says doctors are 'preaching patience'

Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweeted an update about his health to fans July 30, saying his symptoms had 'plateaued.' In a bit more detail, the driver said his balance/gaze stabilization are the only issues and that his physicians were 'preaching patience.'  Read more 

Jeff Gordon will sub as long as needed

As he prepared to pilot the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Pocono Raceway, Jeff Gordon said he would remain available to the team 'as long as they need me.' Hendrick Motorsports officials have not indicated who would be in the car if Junior is not back behind the wheel for the race at Watkins Glen.  Read more

Dale provides another update post-Indy

Dale Earnhardt Jr. took to "The Dale Jr. Download" to provide fans with another update on how he is doing and what comes next for the Hendrick Motorsports driver in his recovery. Read more | What game is Junior addicted to?

Dale Jr. tweets latest update

Dale Earnhardt Jr. took to Twitter to provide fans with the latest update on his condition. Read more | Gordon returns, discusses Dale Jr.

Gordon in for Indy, Pocono

Hendrick Motorsports announces that Dale Earnhardt Jr. was not cleared to return and that Jeff Gordon will replace him in the No. 88 at Indianapolis and Pocono. Read more | Dale Jr. through the years | Drivers of the No. 88 | Three key questions for Gordon, Junior 

Dale Jr.: In his own words

On his "The Dale Jr. Download" podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. gives an update on how he is feeling and talks about the need for "a lot of patience." Read more

Good run gone bad 

The No. 88 found the wall again at New Hampshire, this time with Alex Bowman behind the wheel. After starting 20th for the New Hampshire 301, Bowman had reached the top 10 but blew a tire on Lap 273 and finished 26th. Read More | Full race results

Hendrick discusses Dale Jr., plans for 88

Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick said before the Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire July 17 that driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. would undergo more tests early the following week to determine whether he would be able to race in Indianapolis. The No. 88 perennial most popular driver sat out the New Hampshire 301 with concussion-like symptoms. Saying he wants to keep Junior in an HMS car for the 'long pull,' Hendrick stressed that he wants his driver back when he is healthy. | Read more | Hendrick: 'It's the right thing to do' | Ives discusses prospect of Gordon in the No. 88 | O'Donnell outlines with Junior needs to get back in No. 88

Cain: The right decision

Dale Earnhardt Jr. 's decision to sit out the race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway due to concussion-like symptoms was the absolute right one given his history of concussions and serves an example for others to listen to their bodies, writes Holly Cain. | Read more

Gordon would sub at Indy if needed

Hendrick Motorsports announced July 15 that Jeff Gordon would return to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition as a substitute driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Indianapolis Motor Speedway if Junior is not fully recovered from his concussion-like symptoms. | Read more | Junior news unexpected, Hendrick official says

Drivers offer support for Junior

Alex Bowman says he hates getting an opportunity to drive the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet this way and hopes Dale Earnhardt Jr. feels better soon. Fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers, crew chiefs and other members of the NASCAR family also offer warm thoughts. | Read more | What drivers are saying | Despite circumstances, Bowman looks to make most of chance

Earnhardt Jr. to miss New Hampshire race

Hendrick Motorsports announced July 14 that Dale Earnhardt Jr. would not compete in the New Hampshire 301 after experiencing concussion-like symptoms. The No. 88 driver was evaluated by a neurological specials and was not cleared to race at Loudon. | Read more | Bowman: 'Not here to be Dale Jr.'

'Big One' catches Junior at Daytona

The 'Big One' came just after the midpoint of the Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. 's No. 88 Chevrolet was one of 22 cars caught up in the melee. | Read more | Watch the wreck unfold

Dale Jr. caught up in wreck at Michigan

At the time of Dale Earnhardt Jr. 's wreck at Michigan, he said the impact wasn't too bad -- but he knew he was going to hit the wall. Rookie Chris Buescher 's No. 34 Ford got loose just after a restart, sliding up into the No. 88 Chevrolet. | Read more | Watch the wreck

Junior pledges brain to science

Earnhardt Jr. added his name to the list of sports stars from across the country who have pledged to donate their brain to science upon their deaths, and then beautifully detailed his reasoning for doing so. | Read more

NASCAR mandates baseline concussion testing

NASCAR announced Oct. 24, 2013, that beginning in 2014 the sanctioning body would mandate preseason neurocognitive baseline testing as part of its comprehensive concussion prevention and management program for all of its national series drivers. | Read more