NASCAR Drug Testing

NASCAR To Begin Random Drug Tests

In the wake of two highly publicized events NASCAR has announced they will begin random drug testing in 2009.

First there was Aaron Fike, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver who was arrested in Ohio while using heroin. Fike later admitted he had previously used the drug on the day of a race the week before.

Then Ron Hornaday, also a Craftsman Truck series driver, was called into question because of his use of testosterone that came from the same Florida clinic that was implicated in the baseball steroid controversy.

NASCAR has hired an independent firm to administer it drug testing program. Dr. David Black and his AEGIS Scieneces Corporation will handle the testing.

Steve O’Donnell with NASCAR described how the program would be handled:

Beginning with the 2009 season, we’re going to institute a baseline test that will take place for the drivers in Daytona during pre-season testing.  Every driver who attends the testing session will be required to submit to a substance abuse test.  All those tests will be administered by an outside agency, which is AEGIS, who will be on-site throughout the testing session.

Moving forward from there, we’re going to institute random testing that will begin, again, starting in 2009.  People that will be subjected to random tests are all NASCAR Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series drivers.  All over-the-wall pit crew members and, again, NASCAR officials will all be part of that program.

We’re also going to institute a mandatory test from the owners to all of their licensed crew members.

It is true that a driver, or anyone tested for that matter, who tests positive just one time could receive a lifetime ban, but I think we’re pretty on the record with three times is an automatic lifetime ban from the sport.

The substance abuse policy brings NASCAR more in line with Major League Baseball and the NFL.

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