Back from the Back Injury

Denny Hamlin has been cleared to race once again in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, after his horrific accident at the end of February, which left him with a lower back compression fracture.  I realize that when racing gets into a driver's blood, it's like an drug addict needing their fix.  They physically NEED to get back behind the wheel as soon as possible, but when it's a back injury, that changes the game--at least to me.

The spine is such a tricky thing.  Mere millimeters of something shifting can make the difference between paralysis and full functioning.  I'm not trying to be a negasaurus here, but if there is any question that he is not completely healed in his back, I think it's ridiculous to risk further damage.

He has a new baby girl--Taylor James Hamlin, with his girlfriend Jordan Fish.  By all accounts, his life is really starting to blossom.  I'd hate to think what his life could become if he is involved in another horrible crash so soon after this injury.

Perhaps I'd feel differently if the series wasn't racing at Talladega this weekend.  That track is notorious for big carnage-filled crashes.  Call me over-cautious, but I think Denny should've waited until next week.  Then again, race car drivers, by nature, are risk takers.  Hopefully the risk will be worth the reward for Denny this weekend.