DiBenedetto out of Cup race because of concussion protocol

Posted November 06, 2016 6:00 am

The Associated Press

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Matt DiBenedetto was held out of the Sprint Cup race Sunday at Texas because of NASCAR's concussion protocol.

While DiBenedetto said he felt fine, doctors didn't clear him to drive in the AAA Texas 500 a day after being involved in a hard crash during the Xfinity Series race at the track.

DiBenedetto said he would be in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday morning to get checked by doctors. He expects to drive in next week's race at Phoenix.

"They have a protocol, things that are set in place that I have to follow, whether I like it or not," he said. "Just make sure everything is all good, which obviously I'm in my body ... I feel perfect, so it should be all fine."

Jeffrey Earnhardt took over driving the No. 83 Toyota that featured a paint pattern remembering the Dallas police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty last summer.

The car included the names and badge numbers of the four Dallas Police Department officers and one Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer who were killed in downtown Dallas on July 7.

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