Traumatic Brain Injury Danger for Race-Car Drivers as Well as Football Players

Last week, the family of three-time NASCAR champion turned broadcaster Darrell Waltrip released a statement that he’ll be stepping away from public life after he was diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration. One thing really jumps out from their statement: the suggestion that his disease may be “complicated by possible chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE),” brought on by repeated head injuries he received while driving a race car. This was particularly tough to hear — not just because Darrell is a legend but because brain injury is something that’s touched so many former racers. I’m one of them.

When you hear about the devastating effects of concussions, it usually has to do with football. CTE is one of those effects. It causes severe mood and memory problems and makes it difficult to plan things and multitask. And it’s a pretty widespread problem: One new study shows that at least one in four NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE at the time of their death. The actual number could be much higher.

Last week, the family of three-time NASCAR champion turned broadcaster Darrell Waltrip released a statement that he’ll be stepping away from public life after he was diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration. One thing really jumps out from their statement: the suggestion that his disease may be “complicated by possible chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE),” brought on by repeated head injuries he received while driving a race car. This was particularly tough to hear — not just because Darrell is a legend but because brain injury is something that’s touched so many former racers. I’m one of them.

When you hear about the devastating effects of concussions, it usually has to do with football. CTE is one of those effects. It causes severe mood and memory problems and makes it difficult to plan things and multitask. And it’s a pretty widespread problem: One new study shows that at least one in four NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE at the time of their death. The actual number could be much higher.