_Editor’s Note: Rick Hendrick has clarified earlier comments clearing Earnhardt, Jr. to race at Martinsville. Earnhardt must test today at an undisclosed facility, likely Gresham Motorsports Park in Georgia, then be re-evaluated (likely Tuesday) before being given the go ahead by Dr. Jerry Petty and NASCAR officials._
Sunday at Kansas Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick announced that Dale Earnhardt Jr. had been officially cleared to race next weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Earnhardt suffered a concussion at a test session at Kansas Speedway but didn’t step forward until a hard hit at Talladega Superspeedway a few weeks later.
Earnhardt, who was 11th in points at the time, sat out for the races at both Charlotte Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. While he was away, he visited specialists at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s sports medicine concussion program.
Earnhardt has one victory, 10 top 5s, and 18 top 10s in 30 starts this season, his best season since 2008.