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WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Retired IndyCar star Dario Franchitti said he has been texting with Dale Earnhardt Jr. to offer his support after Earnhardt announced this week that he will sit out the rest of the 2016 season because of the continuing effects of concussions.Franchitti, who retired from competition on the advice of doctors after a violent crash at the 2013 Houston Grand Prix, said he has monitored Earnhardts situation closely. Earnhardt missed the past six Sprint Cup Series races before deciding to end his 2016 campaign, but he has expressed his desire to return to the seat of the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet next year, assuming he is medically cleared to drive.Asked for his reaction to the news that Earnhardts season is over, Franchitti said: Concern, obviously. Im a fan of his. Having gone through concussions, its not something to take lightly. The fact that he is listening to his doctors and decided to take the rest of the year off to find out what is going wrong, I think that takes more courage than getting back in the car.We as drivers are kind of programmed to just get back in the car and carry on regardless, and a lot of us have done that. It takes more courage to sit out. I think he has really good people working with him, and hes a very smart guy. Hes going to continue doing whats best for him, and thats good.Franchitti admitted to at least three concussions during his 17-year IndyCar career, the first coming in 2000 in a crash at Homestead Speedway, where he also fractured his pelvis.Franchitti, a four-time IndyCar Series champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner, said it took years for him to realize and understand that the Homestead accident, along with others he suffered during his 17-year IndyCar career, had a cumulative effect that changed his personality. He said he has experienced memory loss and other symptoms of multiple concussions.I didnt realize I wasnt right until years later, when I was looking back with hindsight, Franchitti said. I was trying to just continue ahead, to get to the next race and work harder and push through it.Concussion protocol in racing is considerably more advanced now than it was 10 or 20 years ago, with tools such as IMPACT baseline testing putting doctors in better position to decide when an injured driver is fit to compete again.Franchitti said he hadnt been thinking about retirement before his career-ending crash at Houston, and said he believes that Earnhardt is still not ready to quit.I dont know what his mindset is, Franchitti said. Weve texted back and forward. Anything weve talked about is my opinion, and there is nothing we have gone into depth about. Its not an easy decision to make, because, as drivers, all we know to do is keep going.In the position hes at in life, it would be so easy to walk away and say, Thank you. ... Im off! But to me, its clear that he still loves racing, and if there is any way he can get back in the car to do it safely, he will. Buy Cheap Old Skool . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Vans Old Skool Clearance . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. http://www.cheapoldskool.us/ . JOHNS, N. Cheap Vans Old Skool For Sale . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Cheap Old Skool Wholesale .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers right-hander Josh Beckett is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery in about 1 1/2 weeks to relieve pressure on a nerve in his neck. The announcement was made by the club on Saturday following a consultation Beckett had with team physician Neal ElAttrache and Dr. Greg Pearl of Dallas, who will perform the surgery there. "I know he had some tingling again yesterday after throwing," maanager Don Mattingly said.dddddddddddd "He didnt throw very long. I know there was a little bit of a setback there." Beckett, 33, is 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA in eight starts and hasnt pitched since May 13. The three-time All-Star joined the Dodgers last August in a blockbuster nine-player trade along with first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, left fielder Carl Crawford and utilityman Nick Punto. ' ' '