NASCAR Needs To Step Up To A Real Drug Policy

April 15, 2008

By Allen Madding

Allen Madding

For years, NASCAR has had a drug testing policy on the books. The policy was originally penned when NASCAR Winston Cup Series officials could not figure out what was going on with Tim Richmond. At the time, NASCAR guessed that he was abusing drugs, in the end the truth was, Tim Richmond was fighting AIDS. After Richmond’s death, NASCAR’s drug testing policy remained in writing but was one of the rules that was not being implemented.

In the last 10 years, NASCAR has elected to utilize its Drug Testing Policy when officials were pretty certain that one of the drivers was regularly using controlled or illegal substances. To date, no one has been subjected to a true random drug test in NASCAR. With this week’s news breaking story of Aaron Fike’s admission of being under the influence of heroin while competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Sprint Cup Series, many drivers have become quite outspoken on the subject.

If NASCAR is truly concerned about the image of the sport and if NASCAR really desires to address safety, it would behoove the sanctioning body to enforce the drug testing policy.

Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart both support the regular testing of competitors in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Why not?

Is NASCAR afraid of what they will find?

After the black eye major league baseball currently is sporting after a congressional inquiry into the use of drugs in the sport. NASCAR needs to step up to the plate and show the country and all of its fans that it is capable of policing its own. Baseball had years to address their situation and elected to turn a blind eye to the subject and pretend it did not exist.

After the conclusion of the congressional inquiry, most fans now question all of the new records set in the sport over the last 10 years as all being influenced by the use of steroids. The impact of the information turned up in the inquiry will be a black cloud over baseball for years. NASCAR should learn a lesson from the path that major league baseball chose and elect to protect the sport.

NASCAR should be randomly testing everyone who has NASCAR annual credentials – drivers and crewmembers. When interviewed this week, Kevin Harvick noted, "In the 10 years that I've raced, I've never been drug-tested."

Do the teams themselves need to implement random drug testing as part of the terms of employment if NASCAR is not going to address the situation? Perhaps the drivers should all pay a visit to the big white trailer next weekend at Talladega and encourage NASCAR officials to step up and begin regular testing. Who wants to compete at 200 mph on a racetrack with another competitor under the influence of mind-altering drugs? Who wants to work on pit road with cars flying by driven by drivers that could be under the influence of controlled or illegal substances?

NASCAR should have started regular random testing of all competitors ten years ago. Now is the time for the boys in Daytona’s glass offices to make a stand and take action that is way over due.

The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.

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