Denny Hamlin, compression fracture, lower back

Somebody will take Joey out, for sure.

Looks like Denny could be done with racing for awhile....



Hamlin has compression fracture in back

FONTANA, Calif. -- Denny Hamlin has been diagnosed with a compression fracture in his lower back following a crash on the last lap of Sunday's Auto Club 400.

Hamlin is stable enough to return home, but Peyton said it is undetermined whether surgery will be needed or whether Hamlin might miss any races.


In 2003, Dario Franchitti sustained a compression fracture in his back in a motorcycle accident in Scotland and missed most of the season. While he was recovering, Dan Wheldon replaced him at Andretti Green Racing and later became a fulltime member of the team.

In October 2011, Will Power sustained a compression fracture in his lower back in the multicar crash that killed Wheldon at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He spent three months in a back brace, but returned for the 2012 IndyCar opener at St. Petersburg, Fla.

In August 2011, Justin Wilson sustained a compression fracture of his fifth thoracic vertebra when his car went off course and slammed to the ground at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He missed the remainder of the IndyCar season.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...t-cup/2018153/

Mark Martin to replace Denny Hamlin only at Martinsville

Brian Vickers will drive the No. 11 in for Joe Gibbs Racing after Martinsville as Mark Martin returns to his original schedule with Michael Waltrip Racing.

In an unexpected twist, Mark Martin will substitute for injured Denny Hamlin in only the April 7 race at Martinsville Speedway – not for the foreseeable future, as Joe Gibbs Racing had indicated Thursday night.

In a release late Friday afternoon, Michael Waltrip Racing announced Martin would return to its No. 55 Toyota after driving Hamlin's No. 11 Camry for one race.

In a separate release two hours later, JGR announced that Brian Vickers would take over the ride in place of Hamlin after Martinsville, starting with the April 13 race at Texas Motor Speedway.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...adler/2035701/