Fred Lorenzen first NASCAR driver diagnosed with CTE

Fred Lorenzen, a former Daytona 500 winner and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, became the first NASCAR driver diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) following his death in 2024. His family announced the diagnosis after researchers at the Boston University CTE Center conducted a postmortem brain analysis. Lorenzen's children shared their struggles with his decline due to dementia and the impact of CTE, describing years of heartbreak. In response, they have donated $1 million to the Concussion & CTE Foundation to support research and help other drivers. This news follows a recent statement from the family of NASCAR icon Darrell Waltrip, who was diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration amidst concerns over potential CTE.

• 1:01 PMYahoo Sports — NASCAR legend diagnosed with CTE, lived '35 years of constant heartbreak'