Boston University researchers have diagnosed stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen, according to an announcement from the Concussion & CTE Foundation. Lorenzen, who died in 2024 at age 89, is the first NASCAR driver with a confirmed CTE diagnosis.
The finding was made posthumously. CTE is a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated head trauma, and stage 3 represents a significant level of pathology, though the source does not detail his symptoms.
The announcement marks a milestone for auto racing, extending the known scope of CTE beyond contact sports like football and boxing. Lorenzen's case adds NASCAR to the list of sports where the condition has been formally identified.