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Dale Earnhardt Jr. to donate brain for concussion research

Following in the footsteps of many NFL players and extreme sports athletes, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Saturday he plans to donate his brain for concussion research.

It's a major announcement, because Earnhardt is NASCAR's most popular driver — and has been the past 13 years.

Why? What use is it to you at that point? I'm gonna donate mine. https://t.co/cBMZ8yIQuA

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 27, 2016

I'm donating everything one way or another. https://t.co/DQlVYJmHDc

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 27, 2016

Earnhardt, 41, like many veteran NASCAR drivers, is no stranger to hard crashes and head injuries similar to what football players endured before being diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy post-mortem.