UPDATED 2:

Bobby Gerhart, injured during last Saturday’s ARCA RE/MAX Series Pennsylvania 200 at Pocono Raceway, was released Wednesday afternoon from Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Gerhart, diagnosed with a left brachial plexus injury and a T6 compression fracture, has been fitted in a neck brace for comfort. The veteran driver has also been fitted with a back brace to be worn at all times in the upright position, and will undergo physical therapy under a physician’s care in his hometown of Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

“Overall, I’m just so disappointed,” said Gerhart on Wednesday. “As a team, we think it’s plain to see that we’ve got this program completely turned around. We’ve been competitive everywhere. But our championship hopes are gone for 2007, and that’s just disappointing; I don’t know how else to say it.

“I just want to thank Lucas Oil, Eagle Warranty and all our sponsors for being so supportive through all of this.”

Unable to drive the No. 5 Lucas Oil Chevrolet in this Saturday’s Toyota 150 ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Nashville Superspeedway, Bobby Gerhart Racing has announced that veteran driver Brian Keselowski will sub for Gerhart at Nashville.

“It was a unanimous choice at BGR. I’m sure he’ll (Keselowski) do a great job. The car he’ll be in will be high quality in all regards, so he’ll have the opportunity to win the race.”

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UPDATE:

ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Bobby Gerhart has been diagnosed with a left brachial plexus injury by physicians at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, PA. “Mr. Gerhart has a left brachial plexus injury, and a possible fracture of his T-6 vertebrae,” commented Dr. Mark Cipolle of Lehigh Valley Hospital. “He will be in a neck brace for comfort, but there are no fractures of the neck.”

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that control the muscles of the shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist, hand and fingers. Brachial plexus injuries are nerve injuries in which the nerves and/or the nerve roots of the brachial plexus are damaged.

Gerhart, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was involved in a lap 56 incident during the 80 lap Pennsylvania 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Pocono Raceway. Gerhart was able to exit his No. 5 Chevrolet under his own power following the multi car incident, but was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital for further evaluation. The veteran ARCA RE/MAX Series driver was kept overnight after being transported, alert and conscious.

Hospital personnel continued to evaluate Gerhart on Monday, and he remains under physicians’ care for further evaluation by members of the spinal team at the Lehigh Valley Hospital.

“If we decide that Mr. Gerhart does not need a back brace for the vertebrae injury, he could be released this evening,” Dr. Cipolle continued. “Should we decide he needs the brace, we could have to wait until tomorrow for his release.”

Further updates will be provided as they become available.

arcaracing.com

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ARCA Series driver Bobby Gerhart remains hospitalized at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, PA following an on track incident at Pocono Raceway Saturday afternoon. His condition is listed as stable.

Gerhart, of Lebanon, PA, was involved in a lap 56 incident during the 80 lap Pennsylvania 200 ARCA Series race. Gerhart was able to exit his #5 Chevy under his own power following the multi car incident, but was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital for further evaluation where he was kept overnight after being transported, alert and conscious.

Hospital personnel continued to evaluate Gerhart on Sunday, and he will remain under physicians care Sunday night. Further updates will be provided as they become available.

[Bobby Gerhart Racing Team]