Boston University CTE Center researchers identified Stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy in Fred Lorenzen’s brain after his death, making the NASCAR Hall of Famer the first known NASCAR driver with a confirmed CTE diagnosis. The Concussion & CTE Foundation announced the findings publicly on October 20 after Lorenzen’s family released the results of his postmortem examination.
Lorenzen died in December 2024, at 89, after having lived with dementia for roughly two decades.
And now, his children, Chris Lorenzen and Amanda Lorenzen Gardstrom, have committed $1 million to the Concussion & CTE Foundation to support research and create the Lorenzen Memorial HelpLine for current and former racing drivers and their families.
Fred Lorenzen’s Family Turns a Devastating Diagnosis Into a Push for Driver Support
“My dad struggled for many years, long before he was diagnosed with dementia in his 60s,” Gardstrom said. She called years of watching her father decline and the strain that experience placed on the family.
The diagnosis has finally given the Lorenzens a medical explanation for the disease researchers found in his brain.
At this point, Lorenzen’s case opens a much larger question for motorsports. A 2026 case series involving 12 former professional motorsport drivers found mild, nonspecific neurological abnormalities and called for larger studies that follow drivers across their careers and into retirement.
Researchers highlighted the need for baseline testing, better exposure data, and longer follow-up. Those studies could help separate the effects of repeated impacts, diagnosed concussions, aging, and other health factors.
The foundation says the Lorenzen family began discussions with NASCAR leadership in January about the diagnosis and the proposed support effort. According to the foundation, NASCAR declined to join the initiative.
Several media outlets reported separately that NASCAR did not respond to its request for comment before publication. Lorenzen’s family wants the sport to extend more support toward retired drivers and long-term brain-health research.
The $1 million commitment aims to give that push a practical component. The Lorenzen Memorial HelpLine offers free, personalized care navigation for current and former auto racers and their families who face persistent concussion symptoms, suspected CTE, or related neurological concerns.
A licensed clinical social worker can recommend nearby medical providers, educational materials, symptom information, and family-support resources. Part of the donation will also support Boston University researchers working toward methods that could identify CTE during life.
Lorenzen won 26 races in 158 starts at NASCAR’s top level, won the 1965 Daytona 500, and entered the NASCAR Hall of Fame with the Class of 2015. In 1963, he became the first NASCAR driver to earn more than $100,000 in a single season.
His family now wants the name that once represented speed, major victories, and NASCAR’s growth in the 1960s to help drivers who built the sport confront health problems after their careers end.
According to the Fred Lorenzen Memorial HelpLine, anyone concerned about long-term concussion symptoms, suspected CTE, or related neurological problems can submit a request through their website, which says it responds within three business days with referral and support information.