Why Dale Earnhardt Jr. is feeling fitter than ever

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – As an unintended and unexpected result of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s concussion rehabilitation program, the driver has lost eight pounds and continues to get in better physical shape.

Earnhardt has to do daily exercises as part of his recovery process, and that has resulted in a weight loss for a driver who typically only worked out in the offseason.

“It’s inadvertently gotten me in better shape,” he said Wednesday.

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The 42-year-old was never into hitting the gym very much until he started dating fiancée Amy Reimann. In the offseasons, he started tagging along with her to workouts but typically dropped the exercise program once the season began. He figured drivers typically burn a couple thousand calories during a race weekend.

“When you’re racing, you don’t have to worry about weight as long as you’re not eating a bunch of junk,” he said. “The only thing I ever worried about was making sure I fit in my (firesuit). Any time we had to alter the suit, I had to start watching what I was eating. Like, ‘Man, we’re getting out of control here.’ ”

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Earnhardt said he feels good and that “I feel like I could get out there and do it.” The driver is aiming for a return at February’s Daytona Speedweeks.

“I’m anxious for this season to get wrapped up and get to Daytona,” he said. “I’m looking forward to going to Daytona and getting in the garage and getting in the suit and back in the process of being part of the team.”

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