Earnhardt happy to log miles, ready for next step

With each lap Dale Earnhardt Jr. logged Saturday during practice at Daytona International Speedway, the more his concussion and subsequent recovery faded away.

Making his first competitive laps since July 9, 2016, at Kentucky Speedway, Earnhardt said he was not nervous to be back behind the wheel. As most practices are with single-car runs ahead of Daytona 500 qualifying, things went smoothly at the 2.5-mile speedway with the No. 88 team accomplishing everything they set out to do.

Earnhardt ran nine laps in practice ahead of qualifying set for Sunday afternoon, which will set the field for the 59th running of The Great American Race.

"Just trying to put as many laps as I can behind me and get further and further into this deal to where the events from last year become more of a distant memory and don't define me as who I am so much anymore," Earnhardt said after clocking in 11th fastest during practice.

"It will be good to get in the car and get some good wins and good finishes under our belt this season. That's our plan."

Earnhardt is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500 and started from the pole in the event in February 2011. In 34 starts at Daytona in the February and July events, Earnhardt has four victories and 593 laps led. He also has five wins in the Duel qualifying races as well as two victories in the Clash.

Daytona is a fitting place for Earnhardt to make his return, and not surprisingly, he said going through the paces Saturday felt good.

Last year's concussion forced Earnhardt out of his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for the season's final 18 races. Balance and vision issues were the scariest part of the recovery process, Earnhardt admitted. But since being cleared in early December following a private test at Darlington Raceway, Earnhardt has been eager to return to the track in a competitive nature.

"It felt good to just get out there and get to work a little bit and be with the guys and see all the familiar faces in the garage," Earnhardt said, "other drivers and team members and so forth."