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Finding Drugs In NASCAR

When looking at other major sports, it seems that NASCAR has been spared the worst of the serious drug use controversies. One of the most well-known drivers to be suspended for a failed drug test was the 13-time race champion Tim Richmond back in 1988. He drove for Hendrick Motorsports and was heading toward greater success, becoming a regular fixture on the nascar schedule. Richmond, however, denied the drug abuse, and it was later stated that medications to suppress cold symptoms triggered the positive result. Still, representatives of NASCAR decided to keep Richmond out from thatpoint forward. He was already suffered weight loss due to illness; in fact, Richmond was dying of AIDS, though NASCAR was unaware of this fact at the time. From NASCAR`s perspective, the weight loss and subsequent symptoms must be the result of drugs; rumors in the Cup garage supported this assumption.

In 1989, he passed away due to complications from AIDS.

Since Tim Richmond’s unceremonious exit from the sport two decades ago, very few drivers have faced the wrath of NASCAR because of illegal substances. Shane Hmiel, Kevin Grubb, Tyler Walker, and Aaron Fike have faced suspensions in recent years. Grubb and Hmiel received lifetime bans after failing drug screenings following reinstatements from a previous suspension due to drugs.

Hmiel is the son of racing mechanic Steve Hmiel, who has been involved with popular racing companies like Chip Ganassi Racing, Rousch Racing, and Dale Earnhardt Inc. in the last several years. Hmiel was a racer with serious talent and many described him as one of the more talented rookie drivers of the last decade, but his substance abuse issues were the undoing of his promising driving career.

Grubb was also a young driver in the late 1990s. Before he was suspend for failing a test in 2003, Grubb was making a small mark in the Busch Series, which is now the Nationwide Series. Grubb was reinstated in 2006, and suspended again in 2007. Just recently, in May 2009, Grubb shot himself in the head and and subsequently died of his injuries.

Driver Tyler Walker, who is friends with the Sprint Cup Series racer, Kasey Kahne, was suspended in 2006 for failing a drug screening. At present, Tyler has not made any move to get reinstated.

For Aaron Fike, NASCAR suspended the driver from racing after a theme park arrest for heroin possession. Later, in an interview with ESPN`s `The Magazine,` Fike said that he was using heroin on race day. The interview was a wake-up call for NASCAR.

Until this latest racing season, NASCAR officials had reserved drug testing for those drivers under suspicion for illicit drug abuse. NASCAR`s new drug policy includes random testing for all drivers and crewmembers during the driving season using third-party service Aegis Science Corp Labs, which is managed by Dr. David Black.

A small number of crewmembers have been suspended following positive testing.

Jeremy Mayfield, perhaps one of the hottest drivers in NASCAR has been put on indefinite suspension following a positive testing for drugs back on May 9 at Darlington Raceway. Mayfield says the positive result is due to a combination of Claritin-D, an allergy medication, and a legally prescribed medication. However, NASCAR and Dr. Black have publicly ruled out Mayfield’s claim.

Mayfield refuses to withdraw his claim and has hired a lawyer named Bill Diehl to handle the case. A lawsuit against NASCAR could be on the horizon.

NASCAR has not publicly disclosed the substance that is in question, and even Mayfield has expressed ignorance regarding the drug. Both Mayfield and Diehl obtain updated reports at the beginning of the week.

This case comes down one person`s testimony against another and it will be taken care of outside of the courtroom. It has triggered plenty of attention on the sport of NASCAR, and not in a good way. Yet, the coverage has not affected the nascar schedule. The Mayfield story has cast a long shadow over any stories in NASCAR that could become good points. The simple fact is that drug scandals are not as common in NASCAR as they seem to be with NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB athletes.

The random drug screening process is an improvement from the screening only on reasonable suspicion approach. The only trouble is that NASCAR officials have failed to provide a list of banned substance. It seems that NASCAR wants to decide if a substance should be banned. A list of banned substances would allow the drivers and crewmembers more understanding on what they can or cannot do.

It should be crystal clear now that drugs are not allowed in NASCAR.

Edwards not committing to Nationwide schedule (ESPN)

Carl Edwards, a seven-year veteran and 2007 champion of Nationwide Series, won't be committing to the second-tier NASCAR circuit for the 2012 season.

ESPN

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