Earnhardt Jr. will not race at Charlotte or Kansas

UPDATE This time, it is truly official. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has been medically cleared to race this weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

Per NASCAR policy, NASCAR’s medical liaison office received official notification of his clearance to resume racing late this morning. Earnhardt announced Oct. 11 that he would miss two races, Charlotte and Kansas, while he was recovering from a concussion.

10/11/12 Dale Earnhardt Jr. will not compete in the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway after being diagnosed with a concussion following the Oct. 7 race at Talladega. Earnhardt, driver of the #88 Chevrolets for Hendrick Motorsports, was diagnosed Wednesday afternoon in Charlotte. Regan Smith will be the team's substitute driver at Charlotte and Kansas. Hendrick Motorsports

[Editor's Note: Given Earnhardt is NASCAR's biggest draw, NASCAR's insane 'pack' racing bites it in the posterior once again. That will put Dale Jr. out of the Chase points race as well. Yet another blow.]