DEI's Gilmore taken ill.

While the on-track focus for Dale Earnhardt Inc. this weekend surrounds keeping Martin Truex Jr in the Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship and trying to get a win for Dale Earnhardt Jr in his last race of the year with crew chief Tony Eury Jr at the helm of the #8 team, the off-track focus took a turn for the worse on Friday when the team's Vice President of Competition Richie Gilmore was taken ill.

While the on-track focus for Dale Earnhardt Inc. this weekend surrounds keeping Martin Truex Jr in the Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship and trying to get a win for Dale Earnhardt Jr in his last race of the year with crew chief Tony Eury Jr at the helm of the #8 team, the off-track focus took a turn for the worse on Friday when the team's Vice President of Competition Richie Gilmore was taken ill.

Gilmore, who along with Teresa Earnhardt has been trying to steer DEI through a turbulent 2007 season, was taken to a hospital near to the Talladega Superspeedway on Friday after suffering what was initially thought to have been a minor stroke.

However on arrival at the hospital it was discovered that Gilmore had suffered a minor aneurysm and, following treatment, was released and sent back to his North Carolina home to recover.

There is no word on how long Gilmore will be away from the track although further hospital evaluation will continue next weekend.

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