Off the Track. Junior and Kenseth Updates

The two biggest stories coming out of this weekend’s NASCAR event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway have to do with happenings off the track and not on it. The talk all weekend was the status and health of the sport’s biggest star, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

NASCAR’s Executive Vice President, Steve O’Donnell told Sirius XM NASCAR that the priority is Dale Jr.’s health. He commended Earnhardt for notifying NASCAR of his condition.

Dale must first pass a series of NASCAR “impact test”. Before he will be allowed back in his car. O’Donnell gave no time line when Earnhardt may be expected back. Earnhardt first complained of dizziness and nausea.

“I’ve struggled with my balance over the last 4-5 day. I made the decision I had to make”, Earnhardt Jr. said.

Earnhardt Jr. was optimistic his absence would be short as he scored well in the concussion test which he was given.

“I took the impact test which measures thought process. The results match my baseline which made me feel confident that my brain was pretty sharp. I feel good”, Earnhardt said.

Here’s hoping Earnhardt Jr. returns to the track soon.

The other big news happening away from the track was the failure of a post-race inspection of Sunday’s race winner, Matt Kenseth. Kenseth’s car failed the laser test after he took the checkered flag at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Sunday afternoon.

Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President, was not quick to offer an opinion.

“The car will be analyzed at our Research and Development garage in Charlotte North Carolina”, O’Donnell said.

O’Donnell went on to say that NASCAR will be looking to see if on track damage led to the laser failure or if a broken part contributed to the issue.

“We’ll look at all of those things including to see if it was a broken part that was purposely designed to break.”

Normally NASCAR announces penalties and fines mid-week. This Wednesday will have the folks in the Joe Gibbs camp and all of NASCAR teams paying close attention. Stay tuned.

Thanks for reading. Listen to WTBQ radio on Monday and Friday mornings at 8:45 as I join Frank, Taylor and the Morning Show gang to discuss all the current happenings in NASCAR. You can also follow me on twitter @JimLaplante.