Martin Truex Jr. released from hospital, plans to race despite kidney stone
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor |
Saturday, March 07, 2009 3:00 AM EST
HAMPTON, Ga. – Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's Martin Truex Jr. has a small kidney stone but is not expected to miss the Kobalt Tools 500 on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a team spokesman said Saturday afternoon.
Truex likely will pass the stone tonight but even if he doesn’t, he should be cleared to drive. It would be a matter of pain tolerance because he cannot take strong pain medication and race or he could be in violation of NASCAR’s substance-abuse policy.
Truex completed both practice sessions Saturday before going to Spalding Regional Medical Center in Griffin, Ga., because of the pain. He was released Saturday night but had not passed the stone.
He is scheduled to start 23rd on Sunday.
