Dale Earnhardt Jr.?will miss the rest of the 2016 Sprint Cup season as he recovers from concussion symptoms, it was announced Friday.Earnhardt has missed the past six races because of a concussion his doctors believe was suffered in a June 12 crash at Michigan International Speedway. He has been undergoing regular evaluations at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program and is being treated for issues related to balance and focusing on objects that are at a distance while moving his head.I wish I could return to the No. 88 team this season, Earnhardt, who has not been medically cleared to compete, said in a statement. To say Im disappointed doesnt begin to describe how I feel, but I know this is the right thing for my long-term health and career. Im 100 percent focused on my recovery, and I will continue to follow everything the doctors tell me. Theyre seeing good progress in my test results, and Im feeling that progress physically. I plan to be healthy and ready to compete at Daytona in February. Im working toward that.The support from both inside and outside the race team has been overwhelming. Everyone has been so encouraging and positive, from my teammates and sponsors to my family, friends and fans. Its motivating and humbling at the same time.Hendrick Motorsports said Jeff Gordon, who is again driving for Earnhardt this weekend at Darlington, and Alex Bowman will continue to fill in for the remaining 12 races on the Sprint Cup schedule.I know how hard Dale has worked and how frustrating this is for him, team owner Rick Hendrick said in a statement. He wants to be back, and we want him back, but we want it to be for the long haul. Weve had incredible support from everyone involved with the team, including all of our sponsors. Theyve put Dales health first every step of the way.From a competition standpoint, missing the remainder of the season should not hurt Earnhardt. The only way he would have made the Chase for the Sprint Cup is if he came back next week at Richmond and won the race. The NASCAR car specifications also will change for 2017, meaning the cars will drive differently next season than they will the remainder of this year.I look up to him for what hes doing. I know how hard that is to look out and want to be inside that racecar, Sprint Cup driver Joey Logano said. Your life and your health is not worth risking for the sport.Speaking Aug. 5 at Watkins Glen, Earnhardt stressed he wanted to continue racing. His contract with Hendrick runs through 2017.As soon as I can get healthy and get confident in how I feel and feel like I can drive a car and be great driving it, then I want to drive, said Earnhardt, who missed two races in 2012 after suffering two concussions in six weeks. I want to race. I miss the competition. I miss being here.I miss the people and, as Rick [Hendrick] likes to say, Weve got unfinished business. Im not ready to stop racing. Im not ready to quit. Its a slower process. I wish it wasnt.Earnhardt crew chief Greg Ives said he talked to each of his team members Friday. He said the fact Earnhardt has been interacting with the team -- coming to the shop as well as the appearance at Watkins Glen -- has had a calming effect and keeps them from constantly speculating about Earnhardts long-term status.Theyre disappointed that Dale is not going to be in the car, but they also know what is best, Ives said. Time is best to heal this situation. Nobody wanted to rush things just to get into a race car just to try to prove something. Were going to go forward. We know that the way to recovery is to put your best foot forward, to have positive thoughts and to have fast race cars.In addition to Sundays race, Gordon will be behind the wheel of the No. 88 for races at Richmond (Sept. 10), Dover (Oct. 2) and Martinsville (Oct. 30). Bowman will drive at Chicagoland (Sept. 18), New Hampshire (Sept. 25), Charlotte (Oct. 8), Kansas (Oct. 16), Talladega (Oct. 23), Texas (Nov. 6), Phoenix (Nov. 13) and the series finale at Homestead (Nov. 20).Earnhardt, who turns 42 in October, has 26 victories -- including two Daytona 500 wins -- in 595 career Sprint Cup starts. He has finished in the top-10 in 42 percent of his races.The son of seven-time Sprint Cup champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt, Earnhardt Jr. has never won a Cup title, with a best finish in the season standings of third in 2003. After missing the Chase for two consecutive seasons, he has enjoyed a career resurgence with five consecutive Chase appearances from 2011 to 2015.Its sad to see that hes not going to be able to get back in the car in 2016 because, as a race-car driver, thats where you want to be, said Elliott Sadler, who drives for Earnhardt in the Xfinity Series. You want to be in your race car competing week in and week out. Its tough not to be able to see him in his famed No. 88 car the rest of the year.On the flip side to that ... (Im) proud of him to take a step back, make sure he gets everything in line that he needs to get in-line from a medical side or feeling side to be 100 percent when the 2107 season starts.ESPN Staff Writer Bob Pockrass contributed to this report. David Luiz Jersey . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. Ethan Ampadu Jersey . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. http://www.chelseafcproshop.com/Kids-Tiemoue-Bakayoko-Jersey/ . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Cesc Fabregas Jersey .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. NGolo Kante Jersey . Laudrup revealed Thursday he was notified of his dismissal in "the briefest of letters which gave no reasons why such hasty and final action was deemed necessary. CEDAR CITY, Utah -- Patrick Tyler threw for 231 yards and three touchdowns and Southern Utah sent Montana State to its sixth straight loss, 38-21 on Saturday.Malik Brown added 64 yards rushing with a touchdown and Logan Parker, Cameron Chambers, and Steven Wroblewski all had receiving scores for the Thunderbirds (5-4, 4-3 Big Sky).Montana State kept it interesting in the first half, taking a 14-7 lead on a 39-yard TD strike from Chris Murray to Mitchell Herbert before Southern Utah tied it 14-14 at the break thanks to TTylers 18-yard scoring pass to Chambers.ddddddddddddThe second half was all Southern Utah as the Thunderbirds reeled off 24 straight including touchdown runs by Brown and Raysean Pringle for a 38-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter.Murray had 149 yards passing, ran for 106 yards, and accounted for all three touchdowns for Montana State (2-7, 0-6), but was plagued by three interceptions. 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