Dale Earnhardt Jr. will miss at least two more NASCAR races as he continues to deal with concussion symptoms, Hendrick Motorsports announced Wednesday.
Jeff Gordon, a former Hendrick teammate and four-time Cup champion who retired after last season, will replace Earnhardt in the No. 88 Chevy in Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and next week's race at Pocono (Pa.) Speedway.
Earnhardt, 41, had recent crashes at Michigan and Daytona, felt poorly before the race at Kentucky Speedway two weeks ago. After initially thinking he was suffering from allergies, Earnhardt consulted a neurologist, who didn't clear Earnhardt to drive last week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
According to a Hendrick Motorsports news release, Earnhardt was evaluated again Tuesday at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program. Earnhardt said earlier this week that he has been having problems with balance and nausea.
"Our focus is giving Dale all the time he needs to recover," Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick said in a statement. "There's nothing we want more than to see him back in the race car, but we'll continue to listen to the doctors and follow their lead. What's best for Dale is what's best for Hendrick Motorsports and everyone involved with the team. We're all proud of him and looking forward to having him racing soon."
Earnhardt wasn't available for comment. But in a podcast Sunday night, he said: "My mind feels real sharp. I've struggled with my balance over the last four, five days and I definitely wouldn't be able to drive a race car (last weekend). Making the right decision was out of the question, I made the decision I had to make. It's just going to take a lot of patience."
Alex Bowman replaced Earnhardt at New Hampshire, finishing 26th after a tire blew late in the race.
Gordon had 93 career victories, including five at Indianapolis, before he retired after the 2015 season. He worked as a Fox television race commentator during the first 16 races of this season.
"Jeff's a team player," Hendrick said. "I know he'll be ready, and I know Dale has incredible trust in him. It's going to be an emotional weekend (at Indianapolis) with Dale not being there and seeing Jeff back behind the wheel. Greg (Ives) and the team did a great job at New Hampshire, and they have the full support of our organization."
Earnhardt, who had two concussions in 2012, has said he will donate his brain to scientific research after he dies. He will not travel to Indianapolis or Pocono. Earnhardt hasn't won a race yet this season and is 15th in the points standings.
