Charlotte Motor Speedway Donates Money For Concussion Research

SMI presents a check to Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Pete McCole/AR1

Charlotte Motor Speedway will honor Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s final start at his hometown track with a $100,000 donation in his name to support concussion research.

Speedway Motorsports Inc. President and CEO Marcus Smith presented Earnhardt, Jr. with a ceremonial check made out to Carolina's HealthCare System to establish the "Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Concussion Research Fund" at Levine's Children's Hospital in Charlotte, N.C.

Earnhardt, Jr., who has suffered several concussions over his career including one that sidelined him for the last half of the 2016 season, was pleased with how CMS chose to honor his final Charlotte race.

"This is a great gift that will impact a lot of lives in the area and make a real difference," Earnhardt said. "This track has always been really special to me. I really appreciate it. That's a gesture that's going to have such a long-lasting impact."

Earnhardt, Jr. made his first Charlotte Motor Speedway Cup Series start in 2000 and that year became the first rookie to win the NASCAR All Star Race, cementing his name in the track's long and storied history.

"Charlotte Motor Speedway is NASCAR's home track and Dale Jr.'s home track, so we wanted to present him with a gift will have an impact here at 'home'," said Smith. "In addition to everything he's accomplished as a competitor, Dale Jr. has been passionate about raising concussion awareness through his own experiences and helping children through The Dale Jr. Foundation. We want the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Concussion Research Fund to do both with a significantly positive influence throughout the Charlotte region."