Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn’t the only active NASCAR driver to suffer multiple concussions.
In fact, Danica Patrick ventured to say Tuesday during Daytona 500 media day that she and many other Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers have likely suffered multiple concussions during their careers.
“I had concussions,” Patrick said. “I’m sure every time you fall, you get a concussion to a varying degree. So when (Earnhardt) talked about having had 12 concussions, I was like, ‘I’m sure I’ve had 12 concussions, you know?'”
Patrick said it was important that Earnhardt, the sport’s most popular driver, was so outspoken on the issue of concussions after missing the second half of the Cup season — 18 races in all — last year.
She said the company continues to pay increased attention to the issue, even after NASCAR’s recent announcement that it will step up its concussion protocol procedures when it comes to examining drivers who have suffered hits and determining whether or not they should sit out of races as a result.
She also openly questioned whether NASCAR drivers regularly took bigger hits than professional football players.
“It’s a bit sobering, that’s what I would say, because even though we’re not football players and we don’t get repeated hits in succession over a short period of time, it’s hard in the car and the hits are probably singularly bigger. I don’t know. Maybe,” she said.
“I don’t really know. I’m just guessing that going 200 miles an hour, 150 miles an hour, that must be a pretty big hit compared to running. Then again, we have a lot of layers of protection, whether it’s SAFER barriers, collapsible things on the car that are all meant to absorb inertia, and then all the safety equipment we have, from helmets to HANS to belts. It’s thought-provoking, that’s for sure.”
It’s important to think about this issue, she said, because racing drivers often avoid facing the obvious fact that something is wrong with them physically.
“It makes you look out for yourself, and I think there’s nothing better than letting Dale Jr. get out of the car for as long as he did and say, ‘Hey, I have a problem.’ Because that makes it accessible to everyone,” Patrick said.
“Now, I don’t think anyone else has as much luxury in terms of sponsorship as Junior to get out of the car like that. But it also comes from a renowned driver who sets the standard for welfare, and that’s admirable.”
Taking time away from racing and speaking out on the issue as Earnhardt did was almost unprecedented in NASCAR, Patrick added.
“I think we all like to sweep it under the rug when drivers say, ‘We feel good. It’s okay,” she said. “But it’s our life. If someone told me – or, hopefully, any other driver – that if you have another wreck you’re going to have a serious problem, I’d be out.”
“I love what I do, but I love a lot of other things and I love life too. And I’m too young for that to stop, so it’s been a good lesson for a lot of people – and a good education.”
