DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Jeffrey Earnhardt needed a relief driver Friday night in the Nationwide Series race after starting with a broken collarbone.
Earnhardt was injured this week when he crashed his motorcycle. He started the race at Daytona International Speedway, but said he’d exit the car if needed for precautionary reasons. Earnhardt said he didn’t want to risk further damage that would lengthen the healing process.
Matt DiBenedetto replaced Earnhardt in the car on Lap 53 during the first pit stops under caution.
Earnhardt’s grandfather, the late Dale Earnhardt, is believed to have broken his collarbone at least twice during his NASCAR career. He missed four races in his 1979 rookie season with the injury, but missed no time in 1996 when he again broke his collarbone.
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