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Drug Users In NASCAR

By: Jeremy Dunn

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When looking at other major sports, it seems that NASCAR has been spared the worst of the serious drug use controversies. The most famous driver to be suspended due to a failed drug test was 13-time race winner Tim Richmond in 1988. Richmond joined Hendrick Motorsports and began building an impressive record on the circuit, and he was regularly listed on the nascar schedule. Richmond, however, denied the drug use, and it was later stated that medications to suppress cold symptoms triggered the positive result. Regardless, NASCAR officials no longer wanted Richmond to compete. He was already losing serious weight due to illness; in fact, Richmond was dying of AIDS, though NASCAR was in the dark about his condition. In NASCAR's eyes, the weight loss and a number of other strange symptoms had to be caused from drug use, and this was the rumor in the Cup garage.

Richmond passed away in 1989 from AIDS-related complications.

Twenty years after Richmond was booted out of racing, only a small number of NASCAR drivers have come under fire from sports officials for illegal substance abuse. Shane Hmiel, Kevin Grubb, Tyler Walker, and Aaron Fike have faced suspensions in recent years. Grubb and Hmiel received lifetime bans after failing drug tests following reinstatements from a previous suspension due to drugs.

Hmiel is the son of veteran mechanic, Steve Hmiel, who has had an illustrious 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 future in racing.

Grubb was also a young prospect in the late 1990's. He enjoyed moderate success in the Busch, now Nationwide Series before failing a drug test in 2003. While he was reinstated three years later, Grubb was again suspended 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 not passing a drug screening. 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. In a later interview with ESPN 'The Magazine', Fike admitted to using heroin on race day. NASCAR took the Fike interview as a serious call for internal investigation.

Until the 2009 season, NASCAR only tested drivers under reasonable suspicion. Now, it is official policy for NASCAR to call for 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 handful of crewmembers have already been suspended after positive results.

As recently as May 9, 2009, driver Jeremy Mayfield, another popular driver like Tim Richmond, was place on indefinite suspension for failing his drug screening. According to Mayfield, the test was positive because of his use of the allergy medication, Claritin-D and another prescription drug. Both Dr. Black and NASCAR have made it clear that they reject Mayfield's claim.

Mayfield is sticking by his innocence, and has hired a lawyer, Bill Diehl. 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 his attorney received updates earlier in this week.

This case comes down one person's testimony against another and it will be taken care of outside of the courtroom. This latest occurrence has brought negative attention to the sport of NASCAR. Still, there isn't necessarily any reason for concern for the nascar schedule. It has overshadowed many storylines in NASCAR that could result in positive discussions. Much of this comes down to the fact that drug issues are still a rarer thing in NASCAR than they are in the NBA, NFL, MLB, or the NHL.

Switching from the reasonable able suspicion approach to drug testing to the random format was a good move on NASCAR's part. The only trouble is that NASCAR officials have failed to provide a list of banned substance. 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.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

I write for a nascar handicapping blog and you can view my nascar news and rants there. I like to take a controversial approach when blogging about the issues affecting nascar.

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