Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Brain Damage Puts Brakes On Career

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will retire following the 2017 NASCAR season — with the shocking announcement coming just four months after the racing legend declared he was coming back from severe brain damage!

It's a troubling twist after Dale announced in December that he was ready to hit the speedway in February for the Daytona 500! “I feel great,” he said at the time, “and I’m excited to officially be back!” But insiders warned that Dale was covering up a health crisis!

Sources told The National ENQUIRER that Dale had been suffering blinding headaches — with Dale’s “concussion-like symptoms” forcing him to pull out of a 2016 race in New Hampshire . Before that dramatic decision, Dale had already been involved in five crashes just during the current season!

Other pals added that Dale was terrified that another wreck could leave him brain-damaged for the rest of his life! “Dale’s had at least four concussions in his career,” a friend says. “He sees older retired football players who can now barely remember their name after being repeatedly hit!”

Dale had a rough start at the 2017 Daytona 500 — starting his comeback by crashing again during the race before finishing 37th. The rest of his season has also been shockingly lackluster.

“It’s looking more and more like he has to get out of racing,” a source told The ENQUIRER. “Dale, tough as he is, always puts on a brave face — but he really does fear for his future!”