Monster Energy NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (L) laughs with crew members in the garage during NASCAR testing at Phoenix International Raceway on January 31, 2017 in Avondale, Arizona.
Photo – Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images

Last Tuesday, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers headed west to Phoenix International Raceway for testing. Among the teams showing up was Dale Earnhardt Jr, driver of the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.

This was Earnhardt’s first time behind the wheel of his race car since taking time off for concussion-like symptoms that sidelined him late last season. So test day at Phoenix was, perhaps no so surprisingly, exciting from that perspective and his team was happy to have him back in the No. 88. Continue reading →