NASCAR: Earnhardt 'on track' for Daytona

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has slowly but steadily made progress in his recovery from concussion-like symptoms, and while the first few months of his process were spent at home, he's increasingly spending more time in public view – on the Hendrick pit box, in the TV booth and at sporting events. At an event for longtime sponsor Goody's on Sunday at Martinsville, Earnhardt said venturing out has not only been therapeutic, but helps him remain on track to return to racing next season.

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"My intentions are to race and that's the plan that we have going forward, so we're booking things as normal per usual," he said. "We're doing all our photo shoots and everything with anticipation of our sponsors marketing me as the driver of the 88 car, and I think that that's perfectly on track and a reasonable goal to be in the car and be competing in Daytona. We can't sort of sit and wait; we've got to make a decision. Those type of things have to be decided quite early. So we're moving forward with the plan to be in the car, and I don't see anything that says that's not gonna happen. Things are good."

Earnhardt, who helped the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes sound the opening night siren this week, said he's enjoyed the chance to make public appearances as an ambassador for the sport.

"It's been a great time," he said. "I wasn't really sure exactly how that was gonna feel, being around and coming to the track and stuff, I was very apprehensive and real nervous. I feel like, and I've talked to Rick [Hendrick] and I tell him all the time, I feel like I'm not ... being in the car's what I'm supposed to do and not being in the car brings on a sense of guilt that I'm not doing my responsibility, so maybe I'm actively seeking out these opportunities to be visible and be relevant and work with my partners to handle all the responsibilities that we have and have planned before all this happened.

"So I've been open and happy and excited to book all these photo shoots, and if we want to go somewhere and do something we've never done before, like a hockey game, high school game, that's been a real good time ... obviously I miss being in the car, want to be in the car, rather be racing, but until that happens I gotta do things to keep myself busy.

"Those first few weeks trying to get better, sitting at home, not really wanting to go anywhere weren't really fun at all. ... It's not only good therapy, but I need to be doing something. I love being around the sport and I want to feel like I'm an asset to something. It's really helpful."