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Should Drivers Be Concerned About NASCAR Drug Tests?

An Opinion




July 23, 2012

By Matthew Pizzolato
Matthew Pizzolato



Just hours before the start of the Coke Zero 400 a couple of weeks ago at Daytona, the driver of the No. 22 car for Penske Racing, A.J. Allmendinger was suspended by NASCAR for failing a drug test.

Penske flew in Sam Hornish Jr., who arrived and climbed into the car literally minutes before the race began and drove the car last weekend at New Hampshire as well.

A failed drug test by a driver in NASCAR is nothing new. It's happened before, most famously with Jeremy Mayfield a couple of years ago.

Yet the surprising aspect of the Allmendinger situation was that he was suspended mere hours before the start of a race and Penske was left scrambling to find a driver.

More than a few drivers around the garage were a bit surprised and even a little nervous. Dale Earnhardt Jr., supported the decision by NASCAR.

"I think that is what I tell myself to make myself not as nervous about it. Anytime somebody gets in trouble regardless of what it is when you don’t know the true identity of the crime or don’t have a real understanding of the chain of events, everybody gets curious, nervous whatever," Earnhardt said during a press conference. "I’m certain that as big and structured an organization as NASCAR is and the agency they have that works with them on their drug program, they can’t make any mistakes. I have to believe that they are making the right calls and the right choices and there is a reason to make the call they made."

The intention of NASCAR's drug testing program is to keep all the competitors as safe as they can be while on the track. Racing at nearly 200 mph is dangerous enough without having a driver under the influence of a substance.

"It’s hard to comment on taking him out right before the race because I don’t know what it was. I don’t know what they found and, obviously, when you’re out there racing at 200 miles an hour you want everybody to be right," Matt Kenseth was quoted as saying during a press conference at New Hampshire. "That’s what the program is for, so if there was something wrong, you don’t want to be out there with somebody if there’s something wrong with them."

A.J. Allmendinger insists that the positive test result came because of a stimulant, something that he took in a supplement or over the counter drug. He further stated that he hasn't intentionally taken any banned drug, which is beside the point. Whether he "knowingly" took it or not, having an illegal substance in his system is still grounds for failing the test.

Allmendinger's "B" sample test is scheduled for July 24th and he has insisted that his own expert be present at the test. However, both the "A" and "B" sample were taken at the same time and the chances of the results being different are not very likely.

However, what Allmendinger is hoping for is that the results would have been contaminated by a supplement that he took, which is entirely possible. False positive tests occur all the time in drug testing.

Yet what does that mean for the rest of the drivers? Should they panic and begin double checking everything they consume?

Jimmie Johnson believes that drivers who follow the rules should have nothing to worry about.

"I haven’t double-checked them, but I did check my supplements prior to taking them. I just followed the protocol that’s laid out in the rule book and I’ve talked to Dr. Black myself and the staff that’s involved from the supplement side," Johnson said. "And also, on the medical side, with NASCAR; which is a different group, on my prescription things that I take for allergies and all that kind of stuff. So I just follow the protocol and everything has been fine."

While the news that someone failed his drug test is always cause for concern, as long as drivers follow protocol, they should have nothing to worry about.



If you would like to learn more about Matthew, please check out his web site at matthew-pizzolato.com.



You can contact Matthew Pizzolato at .. Insider Racing News

You Can Read Other Articles By Matthew Pizzolato

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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