Irvan Feeling ‘Pretty Good,’ Vows to Return to Race Circuit

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ernie Irvan’s stride was a bit off and the black eye patch was definitely new. But his smile and humor gave him away when Irvan made his first public appearance since suffering massive head injuries in a crash last month.

“I guess I got this all started by calling John Boy and Billy,” Irvan said, referring to the popular morning radio show duo on WRFX-FM in Charlotte he phoned from his hospital room Thursday morning.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I’m just tired,” Irvan, 35, said during his brief appearance. “They have me doing a lot of exercises and it’s consuming. But I feel pretty good.”

The Winston Cup driver made a vow to return to the NASCAR circuit.

“God saved me so maybe I can race again,” he said. “It might take a little while. It could take three months or it could take a year. I really believe I will be at Daytona.”

Irvan suffered severe head and lung injuries when his car slammed into a the wall during practice at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 20. He was unconscious for the next seven days.

Irvan has been undergoing six to eight hours of rehabilitation a day.

Irvan, however, suffers double vision in his left eye that doctors say only time can heal.