NASCAR legend Fred Lorenzen first driver diagnosed with CTE after donating brain
Fred Lorenzen died in December of 2024 at the age of 89, the end of a life that included a remarkable career at the top level of NASCAR. Almost two years later, the Concussion & CTE Foundation have announced that he is now the first driver to officially be diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), noting that he suffered from Stage 3 CTE after his racing career. You cannot ... Keep…
In December of 2024, NASCAR legend Fred Lorenzen passed away at the age of 89. Lorenzen, an icon of the sport, had an illustrious career that spanned from 1956 to 1972, during which he raced in 158 Cup races. Known as "Fast Freddie," he secured 26 victories, including the Daytona 500 in 1965 and the World 600, now known as the Coca-Cola 600, in both 1963 and 1965. Despite not entering every race, Lorenzen once placed as high as third in the championship after participating in just 29 out of 55 races in 1963.
Lorenzen's post-career contributions to the sport include his decision to donate his brain for research in 2016, which ultimately led to his diagnosis posthumously with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in 2022, marking him as the first NASCAR driver officially diagnosed with the condition. His children, Chris Lorenzen and Amanda Lorenzen Gardstrom, have further honored his legacy by donating $1 million to support CTE research and have established the Fred Lorenzen Memorial HelpLine. This dedicated resource connects drivers and families with essential care and support.
The foundation's announcement also highlighted that Dale Earnhardt Jr., whose career was cut short by multiple concussions, plans to donate his brain for research, echoing Lorenzen's commitment to advancing the understanding of CTE. Additionally, three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip announced his decision to step away from public life after receiving a diagnosis of Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD), a condition he attributes to the injuries sustained during his racing career.
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