For the most part, NASCAR has simply not faced the issue of drug abuse like other professional sports. The most famous driver to be suspended due to a failed drug test was 13-time race winner Tim Richmond in 1988. He became a part of Hendrick Motorsports and was the path to superstar status, regularly appearing on the nascar schedule. Richmond, however, denied the drug use, and it was later stated that medications to treat cold symptoms triggered the positive result. NASCAR did not want Richmond on the track at that time. He was already losing serious weight due to illness; in fact, Richmond was dying of AIDS, though NASCAR was unaware of this fact at the time. From NASCAR`s point of view, the weight loss and subsequent symptoms must be the result of drugs; rumors in the Cup garage supported this assumption.

By 1989, he was dead because of medical complications from AIDS.

In fact, in the two decades after Tim Richmond was banned from NASCAR, few drivers have been taken to task for illicit drug use. Drivers Shane Hmiel, Tyler Walker, Kevin Grubb, and Aaron Fike have been suspended by NASCAR 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 Steve Hmiel, a long-time mechanic who has worked for companies such as Roush Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc., and Chip Ganassi Racing in recent years|Hmiel is the son of veteran mechanic, Steve Hmiel, who has built an impressive career working for names like Dale Earnhardt Inc, Rousch Racing, and Chip Ganassi Racing. 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 drug problems were the undoing of his promising driving career.

Grubb was also a young driver in the late 1990s. Grubb achieved a small measure of success in the Nationwide Series, which was previously known as the Busch Series before failing a drug test in 2003. Grubb was reinstated in 2006, and suspended again in 2007. By May of 2009, Grubb died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The driver Tyler Walker, suspended in 2006 for failing his drug test, is also friends with Sprint Cup Series driver, Kasey Kahne. Tyler has yet to file for NASCAR reinstatement.

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 the 2009 season, NASCAR only screened drivers under reasonable suspicion. Now, it is official policy for NASCAR to issue random drug tests for both drivers and crewmembers during the course of the season using Aegis Science Corp. Labs, and overseen by Dr. David Black.

A small number of crewmembers have been suspended following positive drug test results.

On May 9, 2009 at Darlington Raceway, Jeremy Mayfield became the biggest name since Tim Richmond to face an indefinite suspension after testing positive. Mayfield has said repeatedly that the positive test was caused by a combination of Claritin-D allergy medicine and an unnamed but legal prescription drug. Nonetheless, NASCAR officials as well as Dr. Black have publically ruled against Mayfield` claim of innocence.

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

NASCAR has not publicly disclosed the name of the drug 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 dealt with 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. It has overshadowed many storylines in NASCAR that could result in positive discussions. Because drug issues are rare in NASCAR, it is a bigger deal than it would be if it were and NFL, MLB, NHL, or NBA player.

Of course, the random drug screening program is definitely an improvement. However, NASCAR does not provide a list of banned substances, which is one major flaw in this procedure. The management of NASCAR would like to be in control of this list. 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.

Related posts:

1. NASCAR Illustrated, the Official Magazine of NASCAR Started in 1947 as a family owned and operated business...
2. Homes For Sale Juegos Trabajo | Where Pop Culture Meets Rubber Everywhere – NASCAR Racing homes for sale NASCAR Racing is a fascinating pop culture...
3. Collecting Autographed NASCAR Memorabilia Collecting signed NASCAR items has skyrocketed in popularity over the...
4. NASCAR from My POV Boys will always be boys.  They have this fixation on...

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 26th, 2009 at 11:31 am and is filed under sports cars. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.