Dale Earnhardt Jr. on track for NASCAR return at Martinsville, sister writes in blog post

Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s recovery from multiple concussions is progressing as planned, and the driver could return on schedule at Martinsville Speedway next week, his sister wrote in a Wednesday morning blog post.

“If all goes according to plan, and he continues to improve to 100%, he will test a race car early next week to be cleared for Martinsville,” Kelley Earnhardt Miller wrote in a post on JRNation.com.

The driver has been resting on doctor’s orders, but was allowed to “watch some television and play a little video games,” Earnhardt Miller wrote. The TV viewing included Saturday night’s Charlotte race, where Regan Smith was having a good run until the engine blew.

On Tuesday, Earnhardt Miller accompanied her brother and his girlfriend, Amy Reimann, to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Concussion Program. Earnhardt Jr. “spent most of the day doing different therapies and exercises,” his sister wrote, and toured the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice locker rooms afterward (at the same facility).

“We got back (Tuesday) afternoon and Dale has some different therapies to do at home as he consults with the doctors each day,” she wrote.