Health · Medical Research · 3 hrs ago
Fred Lorenzen becomes first known NASCAR driver diagnosed with CTE
Fred Lorenzen was found to have Stage 3 CTE in a brain study after his death in 2024, aged 89.
He is the first known NASCAR driver diagnosed with the disease, which can only be confirmed after death.
Lorenzen won the 1965 Daytona 500 and 26 NASCAR Cup races during a career that ran from 1956 to 1972.
His children said he had dementia symptoms in his later years, including memory loss, and spent his final years in care.
Repeated impacts to the head are linked to CTE, and Lorenzen’s family connected his diagnosis to crashes and hits during racing.
His children are donating $1 million to research and have set up a helpline to connect drivers and families with support.
Fred Lorenzen has become the first known NASCAR driver diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
The Boston University CTE Center confirmed he had Stage 3 CTE after examining his brain posthumously.
Lorenzen died in 2024, aged 89, after spending his final years with dementia symptoms.
His children said they are donating $1 million to advance CTE research and have established a helpline for drivers and families.
Lorenzen’s son said the diagnosis raised questions about how injured drivers can get help earlier.
- Who
- Fred Lorenzen, a former NASCAR driver.
- What
- He was posthumously diagnosed with Stage 3 CTE, becoming the first known NASCAR driver with the diagnosis.
- When
- The diagnosis was announced on October 20, 2026. Lorenzen died in 2024.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- CTE is linked to repeated head impacts. Lorenzen’s brain was donated for research after years of racing and dementia symptoms.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lorenzen decided to donate his brain for research.
Lorenzen died at age 89.
His posthumous Stage 3 CTE diagnosis was reported.
- Diagnosis
- Stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy
- Brain study
- Boston University CTE Center
- Death
- 2024, aged 89
- Career wins
- 26 Cup races
- Brain donation
- Decided in 2016
- Family contribution
- $1 million for CTE research
2 sources
What people are saying
It's overwhelming to get to where we are today
This is going high speeds, into a wall, into another car. It's the same thing.
He never stopped to heal.