Dale Earnhardt Jr. medically cleared to return to NASCAR

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has received medical clearance and will return to NASCAR competition beginning with the 2017 season-opening Daytona 500, Hendrick Motorsports announced on Thursday.

Earnhardt, 42, was cleared to return after taking part in a private test on Wednesday at Darlington Raceway. In the nearly five-hour session, he completed 185 laps around the 1.3-mile track, NASCAR’s oldest speedway. The test was observed by NASCAR officials and Charlotte neurosurgeon Dr. Jerry Petty.

Prior to the Feb. 26 Daytona 500, Earnhardt said he plans to participate in a Cup Series open-test at Phoenix International Raceway in January. Earnhardt will not race in The Clash, an exhibition event held a week prior to the Daytona 500.

“I feel great, and I’m excited to officially be back,” Earnhardt said in a statement. “I expected things to go really well yesterday, and that’s exactly what happened. Actually getting in a race car was an important final step, and it gives me a ton of confidence going into 2017.”

Earnhardt missed the entire second half of the 2016 season (18 races) due to symptoms related to a concussion he suffered in a June 12 crash at Michigan International Speedway, with the symptoms not manifesting until a few weeks later. It was later diagnosed that Earnhardt had sustained his third concussion in four years.

Earnhardt last competed in a NASCAR race July 9 at Kentucky Speedway, finishing 13th. After the concussion-like symptoms continued to persist, he removed himself from the car before the July 17 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

During Earnhardt’s absence, team owner Rick Hendrick tabbed Alex Bowman and Jeff Gordon to fill in. Gordon, who came out retirement, drove Earnhardt’s No. 88 car in eight races, with Bowman starting 10 races.

Bowman will also substitute for Earnhardt in the preseason The Clash at Daytona. The 23-year-old Bowman earned eligibility by winning the pole at Phoenix International Raceway last month, the No. 88 team’s only pole of the season. Although Earnhardt is eligible to race, he elected to have Bowman remain in the car.

“Alex did such a great job in the car this year, and I felt like he deserved another opportunity,” Earnhardt said. “When I spoke with Rick and the team about him driving The Clash, everyone agreed that he more than earned it, and [sponsor] Nationwide was 100-percent on board.

“I’m really grateful to him and Jeff for what they did for our team, and I’m glad Alex is getting another run with us.”