Fred Lorenzen becomes the first NASCAR driver diagnosed with CTE

The brain study of late NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen has found chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), making him the first NASCAR driver known to be diagnosed with the disease. “Fred Lorenzen brain study results” drew more than 20,000 US searches, according to Google Trends.

What the study found

Researchers at the Boston University CTE Center diagnosed Lorenzen with stage 3 CTE, on a scale of 1 to 4, according to an announcement from the Concussion & CTE Foundation reported by USA TODAY and The Washington Times.

They also identified a cortical-sparing subtype, which BU neuropathologist Dr. Thor Stein said occurs in about 10% of CTE cases and is associated with behavioral and Parkinson’s-like symptoms appearing earlier.

CTE is a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head impacts. It can currently only be diagnosed after death.

Lorenzen’s life and illness

Lorenzen, one of NASCAR’s stars of the 1960s, died on Dec. 18, 2024, at age 89, after living with dementia for about 20 years, according to the foundation. He was diagnosed with dementia in his 60s.

His family’s $1 million gift

His children, Chris Lorenzen and Amanda Lorenzen Gardstrom, donated $1 million to the Concussion & CTE Foundation to create the Fred Lorenzen Memorial HelpLine, which supports families affected by suspected CTE, the foundation said. The reports say NASCAR declined an invitation to join the effort.

Why it matters for motorsports

CTE research has focused mainly on contact sports such as football. A confirmed case in a NASCAR driver is likely to raise more questions about the cumulative effect of crashes on drivers’ brains. The finding follows former driver Darrell Waltrip’s disclosure on Sept. 23, 2026, that he has frontotemporal dementia with possible CTE, according to the same reporting.

A single case doesn’t show how common CTE is among drivers; that would take much broader research.

FAQ

Did Fred Lorenzen have CTE? Yes. Boston University researchers found stage 3 CTE.

Is he the first NASCAR driver diagnosed with CTE? He is the first known case, according to the foundation.

When did he die? Dec. 18, 2024, at age 89.