NASCAR Cup Series

Dale Earnhardt Jr. to take first questions about his concussion

Published Aug. 4, 2016 6:00 p.m. ET

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For the first time since suffering from concussion-like symptoms, Dale Earnhardt will meet with the media to discuss his symptoms, his recovery and, presumably, his future plans.

Earnhardt, driver of the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, is scheduled to meet with the media at noon ET at Watkins Glen International. There, he will take questions from reporters. 

For the third race in a row, four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon will substitute for Earnhardt this weekend and after an off-weekend next week, again at Bristol Motor Speedway in two weeks. Alex Bowman filled in for Earnhardt during the first race he missed at New Hampshire last month.

On his weekly Dale Jr. podcast on Monday, Earnhardt said balance and vision were problematic. 

"The main issue that I have is called gaze stability," Earnhardt said. "That's the main problem. And that is what I believe is tied to the balance. The gaze issue and the problem with my eyes being able to fix on an object at a great distance and stay there with head movement, that's the problem. When I move my head, I sort of lose the object that I'm trying to target. That is hand-in-hand with the balance. As one cleans up and improves, so will the other."

And he said his emotions were up and down. 

"There's days when you're feeling positive and then there's days when you're frustrated and that certainly comes and goes with the process," Earnhardt said Monday. "There hasn't been a lot of change over the last couple of weeks. ..., The symptoms have kind of plateaued."

But Earnhardt Tweeted on Tuesday that he and his doctors were encouraged by how he is doing now.

Earnhardt has gotten support from three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, a man who more than anyone else knows about being sidelined by injury.

"We talk a lot," Stewart said. "I feel bad that he's sitting out. I know that's not where he wants to be, but he's got to do what's right for him."

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