Jeff Gordon comes out of retirement to fill in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in next two NASCAR races

Former NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon’s retirement didn’t last long. Hendrick Motorsports announced on Wednesday that Gordon will fill in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the next two races.

Earnhardt missed last week’s race at New Hampshire due to concussion-like symptoms after crashes in races at Michigan and Daytona. He said that he was struggling with balance and nausea in the days leading up to the race at New Hampshire during his “Dale Jr. Download” podcast on Monday and said there was no timetable for his return. On Tuesday he was evaluated at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program and hasn’t been cleared to return to racing, Hendrick Motorsports said on Wednesday, according to NASCAR.com. Earnhardt missed two races in 2012 due to concussions.

"Jeff's a team player," Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick said in a statement. "I know he'll be ready, and I know Dale has incredible trust in him. It's going to be an emotional weekend (at Indianapolis) with Dale not being there and seeing Jeff back behind the wheel. (Crew chief) Greg (Ives) and the team did a great job at New Hampshire, and they have the full support of our organization."

Hendrick went on to say that they want to see Earnhardt back in the car but they will give him all the time that he needs to recover.

Gordon retired last year and is now a NASCAR analyst for Fox Sports. He raced in 797 consecutive races, won 93 races, third most all-time on the Sprint Cup list, won four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships and has won at Indy five times, according to ESPN. This weekend’s race at Indianapolis will be Gordon’s 798 start in the Sprint Cup Series and his first in a car that’s not the 24 car that he made famous.

Many NASCAR drivers, and Ingrid Vandebosch, Gordon’s wife, reacted to Gordon’s return on social media.

I hope you feel better real soon, @DaleJr, it will be an honor to root for the #88 the next 2 weeks

— Ingrid Vandebosch (@ivandebosch) July 20, 2016

I was the biggest @JeffGordonWeb fan as a kid, now he's driving the car I drove last week! How cool is that?! Only has a few wins ????????

— Alex Bowman (@AlexBRacing) July 20, 2016

Wow. Gonna be a privilege to race with @JeffGordonWeb at the Brickyard this weekend. Get well soon @DaleJr! ???????? https://t.co/VuH2umZC1o

— Ryan Ellis (@ryanellisracing) July 20, 2016

I think it would be cool if @JeffGordonWeb won the Brickyard #NASCAR

— Mark Martin (@markmartin) July 20, 2016

Earnhardt has no wins this season and is currently 15 in driver points and holds the final spot on the Chase grid. NASCAR races at Indianapolis this weekend and Pocono next weekend.