NASCAR champion and fan favorite Jeff Gordon said he may be forced to retire if he continues to experience back pain similar to the spasms he had prior to last weekend’s Coca-Cola 600.
Gordon was forced to cut his practice runs short after back spasms jeopardized his safety on the track. He received treatment after qualifying and alternate Regan Smith was ready to race in his position if Gordon couldn’t go on Sunday, but the four-time Sprint Cup champion toughed it out, finishing seventh for his ninth top-10 finish this season. Despite the promising finish, Gordon said he may be forced into early retirement if the pain persists.
”I can tell you, if that happens many more times, I won’t have a choice,” Gordon said prior to Sunday’s race at Dover Motor Speedway.
Gordon said he felt sore following the Coca-Cola 600, but he added that it wasn’t much different than the soreness he feels after any long race. He also noted that his back wasn’t back to 100 percent heading into the race at Dover, and he doubted that it ever would be fully healthy while he’s behind the wheel.
Not The First Time
The last few weeks weren’t the first time Gordon has dealt with nagging back pain. In 2008 he needed regular treatment on his back, seeking out professional treatment, anti-inflammatory medication, and strengthening exercises with a trainer. He went winless in 2008 and contemplated retirement, but the pain eventually dulled. He dealt with on and off pain over the next six years, but he said he never felt a stabbing back pain like the pain he experienced last weekend.
“There was nothing that was going to fix it until I had those injections on Saturday,” Gordon said.
The injection clearly helped him finish seventh in the Coca-Cola 600, and he came in 15th at Dover this past weekend. Gordon noted that he’ll just have to push through the discomfort if he wants a chance to capture an elusive fifth Sprint Cup Championship.
”It’s just something I continue to learn and push through,” he said. ”It’s no big deal.”
Related Source: Yahoo