NASCAR legend Fred Lorenzen becomes the first known driver to have CTE

(Gray News) - Racing legend Fred Lorenzen became the first NASCAR driver to officially be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.

The Concussion and CTE Foundation announced that Lorenzen suffered from stage 3 CTE before his death in 2024 at 89. According to the foundation’s press release, Lorenzen lived with dementia for the last 20 years of his life.

“My dad struggled for many years, long before he was diagnosed with dementia in his 60s,” his daughter, Amanda Lorenzen Gardstrom, said. “Watching him go through that, and experiencing the impact it had on me and our family was incredibly difficult and beyond heartbreaking.”

It was only through research on Lorenzen’s brain at Boston University after his death that medical officials were able to confirm the CTE diagnosis.

There is currently no way to test for CTE until after death.

Lorenzen said in 2016 that he would donate his brain for research following his death, according to Motorsport. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has also previously said he would donate his brain.

Lorenzen’s family has donated about $1 million to the Concussion and CTE Foundation to fund further CTE research. The donation also helped establish the Fred Lorenzen Memorial Helpline, which will help connect drivers and their families with “care navigation, education, and support groups.”

“While he may be the first race car driver diagnosed with CTE, we know from outreach to other drivers that he isn’t the only one suffering. I know there are so many more out there who need help,” Lorenzen Gardstrom said. “Our family wants to honor our dad’s legacy by making sure other drivers and their families have help navigating this devastating disease and hopefully better answers in the future.”

According to the press release, Lorenzen’s family contacted NASCAR following the diagnosis in hopes the organization would join their efforts in researching CTE among drivers. However, NASCAR declined and has played no part in their efforts.

“My dad’s dementia care came at a significant financial and emotional cost to our family,” Chris Lorenzen said. “We had hoped NASCAR would join us in this effort, and while we’re disappointed that hasn’t happened, we remain hopeful there will be opportunities to work together to support the drivers who helped build the sport.”

Lorenzen had 26 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series during his 158-race career, according to Sports Illustrated. He won the Daytona 500 in 1965 and the World 600 (now known as the Coca-Cola 600) in 1963 and 1965.

In 2015, Lorenzen was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.