Dale Earnhardt Jr. is donating his brain to science
With several efforts being made to make pro sports safer for athletes, many people have stepped up with major contributions to the cause. Add Dale Earnhardt Jr. to that list.
The NASCAR star revealed on Twitter that he will be donating his brain for concussion research.
Why? What use is it to you at that point? I'm gonna donate mine. https://t.co/cBMZ8yIQuA
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 27, 2016
The tweet came as part of a casual chat with a an who was responding to a Sports Illustrated news article about former Raiders players donating their brains in the light of Ken Stabler's CTE diagnosis. The fan responded by saying it was a "big commitment," to which Earnhardt responded by asking "why?"
Earnhardt's contribution should go a long way in discovering how dangerous NASCAR is for its drivers, and what precautions the sport can employ to make it safer.
Earnhardt suffered two concussions in 2012 and missed two races after attempting to hide his symptoms. NACAR implemented baseline concussion testing for all of its drivers two years later.
- By John Dorn
