Racing legend Fred Lorenzen becomes the first known NASCAR driver diagnosed with CTE

Fred Lorenzen, one of NASCAR's greatest drivers from the 1960s, has become the first known NASCAR driver to be diagnosed with a serious brain disease called CTE. The diagnosis was announced Tuesday by his children, Chris Lorenzen and Amanda Lorenzen Gardstrom. Lorenzen died on December 18, 2024, at age 89, after living with dementia for 20 years. Because of his foresight, he had pledged back in 2016 to donate his brain to science, making this discovery possible.

Researchers at the Boston University CTE Center examined Lorenzen's brain after his death. They found that he had Stage 3 CTE, which is the second-most severe level out of four stages. CTE stands for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and it can only be diagnosed after a person has died. Scientists must look at brain tissue under a microscope during an autopsy to find it.

CTE is a brain condition that can develop after a person suffers repeated hits to the head over many years. It is most commonly linked to football players, but it is now becoming clear that NASCAR drivers may also be at risk. A study published last August found that 315 out of 338 football players' brains that were studied had CTE. The brain trauma that drivers experience during crashes may cause the same kind of damage.

Lorenzen was not the only famous NASCAR figure dealing with brain health issues. Just two months ago, longtime Fox Sports broadcaster and NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip, age 79, stepped away from public life because of a brain disease called frontotemporal degeneration. His family said the diagnosis may have been made more serious by possible CTE, which likely came from injuries during his racing career. These two cases together are drawing new attention to the dangers drivers face.

Other NASCAR stars have also been affected by head injuries. Former champion Kurt Busch had to stop racing full-time after a bad concussion during a crash at Pocono Raceway in 2022. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has said he may have suffered as many as 50 concussions during his 20-year career. Earnhardt Jr. has also said he plans to donate his brain for research after he dies.

In response to the diagnosis, Lorenzen's children donated $1 million to the Concussion and CTE Foundation. This gift created the Fred Lorenzen Memorial HelpLine, which helps drivers and their families find medical care when they need it. The donation is a way to honor Lorenzen's legacy and protect future racers. His children hope that others will benefit from their father's brave decision to donate his brain.

During his career, Lorenzen was known for being friendly, outgoing, and incredibly fast. He earned the nicknames 'The Golden Boy' and 'Fast Freddie' as he dominated NASCAR in the 1960s. He was the first driver in NASCAR history to earn $100,000 in prize money in a single season, and fans voted him the sport's most popular driver in 1963 and 1965. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015, as one of the first 25 drivers ever to receive that honor.

Lorenzen's racing record was truly impressive. He won 26 races between 1961 and 1967, which was more than the legendary Richard Petty during that same stretch. He won the famous Daytona 500 in 1965 and the World 600 — now called the Coca-Cola 600 — in both 1963 and 1965. He also won six times at Martinsville Speedway, where he helped start the tradition of giving winners a Ridgeway grandfather clock. Even though safety in NASCAR has improved greatly since Lorenzen's era, his story is a powerful reminder of the long-term risks that come with the sport.