Crew Member Ryan Hess Suspended For Violating NASCAR Policy

There are days I wonder why some folk take these risks, if it was a risk taken, in an environment where drug testing does take place.  Sure, it's random, but as anyone can see, random is not a safety net of dodging the idea of getting caught.

via press release

Crew Member Suspended For Violating NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 23, 2012) – Ryan Hess, a crew member in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy.

On Aug. 22, Hess was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book.

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NASCAR Isn't The Only Sport With Dopey Doping Excuses

Without going into the gritty, you know who I'm referring to when I reference a person who failed a recent drug test because they accepted an unknown pill from a friend of a friend.

Enough has been said about that situation to fill a small book.  But one outlet put together a short and timely piece on the lengths some athletes (outside of NASCAR) will go to dodge the drug test fail!

Check it out (And athletes, take note.  These excuses have been checked off of someone's list.)

Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera created a fake website and cover story for his situation.

U.S. sprinter Kelli White said she was prescribed modafinil for a sleep disorder, and even arranged for a doctor to back her up.

Bike rider Tammy Thomas was busted for steroids, and blamed her contraceptives.

Baltimore Orioles Rafael Palmeiro blamed a vitamin B-12 injection for his steriod bust.

Cyclist Alberto Contador blamed his steak dinner for his clenbuterol test fail.  He claimed the cow was injected with it.

Tyler Hamilton (Cyclist) blamed a dead twin on a discovered blood transfustion.  (a banned method of boosting endurance by increasing the number of red blood cells in an athlete's system.)  Said he got his extra blood cells from his twin in utero.

Justin Gatlin claimed his masseur doped him with a cream.

And so it goes...

When tests are failed, no matter the sport.  From blaming the cow to unborn siblings, the creativity definitely kicks in when folks are under the gun.  And as time goes on, we will probably see more of the same, with new creative hopes of dodging the bullet.

NASCAR is not unique.  It just seems more rare to see these events take place in our sport.

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The entire article is over at California Watch.  It's pretty interesting.

Aaron Fike Reinstated

Aaron Fike is back (At least he's reinstated).  He was suspended from NASCAR competition back in 2007 for failing a drug test.    It took him 5 years to get reinstated.

Just sayin'.

Via press release

NASCAR Reinstates Driver Aaron Fike

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 21, 2012) – NASCAR has reinstated driver Aaron Fike upon his successful completion of NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy Road to Recovery Program. Fike had been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR July 11, 2007 for actions detrimental to stock car racing.

AJ Allmendinger Claims Adderall From A Friend

AJ Allmendinger's substance that set off his drug test was Adderall.  This is what he told ESPN in an interview early Tuesday and Marty Smith reported.  In that interview Allmendinger expressed that he does not have ADHD and is not perscibed the pill.  Rather, his reason for why it was in his system seems suspect at best...

During the week prior to the Kentucky race, he was tired and "a friend" supplied him with a "workout supplement that would give him energy."

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• This seems to go against previous statements that he had emptied his bathroom of all meds to get to the bottom of this.
• It goes in contrast with being health conscious and being careful what he ingests.
• It seems confusing if he is a proponent of whatever energy drink or supplement he had been noted for taking and instead takes an unknown pill.
• And it reeks of vague, like everything else we've heard out of AJ Allmendinger's camp.
• I wonder if this "friend" is a friend of Mayfield's also?
• Plus, I'm not forgetting Allmendinger's DUI from 2009.  It's hard to let go of things like that when this happens.

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Allmendinger came on the scene and he was a fresh and energetic new driver.  He was fun in interviews and it was easy to root for him.

Now I am wondering if we all fell for an image, spun up by his PR team? 

If you think about it, how well do you know someone just from what you see on TV or at a venue?  That's their professional face.  Not the face at home that we never see.

Image is important to any star and fans are very susceptible to it.  Ask any politician.  Their entire push for votes, where they spend millions, is to make you think they're a good vote.

Carl Edwards had gone on a vendetta/angry streak a few years back when he chased down Brad Keselowski every chance he got. Or when he threatened Matt Kenseth with a punch on TV.  Or when he wrecked half a field of Nationwide cars to get a win.  A move he said he'd do again if he ever got the chance. 

But then the following year, we haven't seen that from him.  Plus with his interacting with fans in the stands after wins, I think people are again on his side.  But is it a real side or a spun side for you to see?

Edwards is my first but not ONLY example. (Kurt Busch)  He's just easy to use as one.  But once the cat is out of the bag, sure, they seem changed in later appearances.  Or more precisely, the behavior has stopped in the public's eye.  The mentality that brought it on, that's part of their personality... that's what I question.

Stars do things to look good and generate fans interest.  But do we really know them?  Everyone is shocked when Christian Bale had that verbal freak out at a movie premiere a few years back.  And we're always sort of stunned when we see someone on the TMZ home page.

Me, I'm getting tired of being fooled.  When Michael Vick or DMZ were busted for their dog fighting rings, I was upset on many levels.

A bud of mine works within the image industry of Hollywood and it's amazing to hear what they go through to make someone look good to the audience or public.

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So for now, A.J. Allmendinger is looking to be done with his "Road to Recovery" program by the end of August.  Hopefully he won't take anymore questionable and unknown pills from "friends" after this and stick to his known energy drinks.

Me, it's a non-issue.  No matter what his situation, he needs better friends if the one's he has is giving him bad pills.  Or in other words, "Gimme a break!"

[ESPN]

A Statement From A.J. Allmendinger's "People" On His Drug Test

I have to say, I and I'm sure all of A.J. Allmendinger's fans can really appreciate the lengths that he's going to to fix this situation, regardless of the new test's outcome.  This kind of proactive set of measures that he's taking I'm sure is going a long ways towards not only reassuring his fans of his innocence but also soothing nerves on many corporate fronts.

I feel that no matter what comes of the 'B Sample' test, things will be put right in an expedient fashion.

Without further ranting on my part, here's a press release from the Allmendinger camp:

In an effort to help our colleagues in the media report on this in a timely and accurate manner, we wanted to provide some additional details regarding AJ's sample "A" test results. AJ tested positive for a stimulant. He has no idea why the first test was positive, and he has never knowingly taken any prohibited substance. AJ is collecting his medicines and supplements for testing to determine whether an over the counter product caused his positive test. AJ and all of us at Walldinger Racing respect NASCAR's testing program, and he has requested that his "B" sample be tested as part of the process of getting to the bottom of this. We will have the opportunity to review all of the scientific data surrounding the test following the "B" sample test, but our understanding is that AJ's test was slightly above the threshold. As of this morning, we have not been given notice of when the testing of the "B" sample will take place. Thanks again for all of the support of our fans, team, and sponsors as we continue working through the process."

-Tara Ragan, Vice President, Walldinger Racing Inc

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A.J. Allmendinger Reportedly Shocked By NASCAR Suspension/Drug Test Results

AJ Allmendinger's camp finally spoke up and voiced what many fans are voicing, and that's shock at the test results of AJ's drug test.  AJ is working with the race team to get through this and it's noted that when tests are administered, two samples are taken from the driver.

AJ does have the option to have his second, or "B sample" specimen tested to confirm or deny the first test results.  He also has options to either observe the tests or have a toxicologist watch the re-test.

No word has been released on what AJ Allmendinger will choose to do in regards to his "B sample."

I'm sure there will be more to follow.  And I'm also sure that 'Dinger fans want to see that this was nothing but an error somewhere in the process.

We'll see gang,  we'll see.

sportingnews

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AJ Allmendinger Failed NASCAR's Random Drug Test

I've been out for a while, while I've been recouping from shoulder surgery but today while lounging about the park, waiting for NASCAR's Coke Zero 400 to start, I was checking my NASCAR Twitter feed and was shocked to see odd references to AJ Allmendinger and the word suspended in the same tweets.  Wha?  Further Twitter scanning showed the inevitable info backing up this weird combination of words.

Sure enough, AJ was ousted from the track as results from a random drug test earlier in the week came down the pipe.

I've always enjoyed his personality in his interviews and grimaced at his lack of decent luck or robust success.  And when he landed the No. 22 ride, I was jazzed for him.

I've not know these drug tests to be wrong... well, except per Jeremy Mayfield... so I'm not holding my breath, but I do hope that just maybe, something is wrong with the test.  But if this is true, then damn it, dude, you know testing can come any second. 

If not, well, character marketing was definitely at work and I liked the guy.  But I didn't really know him.  Do we ever know anyone in the limelight except for what image they present to the fans?  Carl Edwards has become the master image man.  From spending a season wreaking havoc on Brad Keselowski every chance he had, and then, to be the fans' driver and running into the stands to share his victories is nothing but a masterful swipe of the image machine.  And I do believe it is working to erase the negative image some fans had of him.  Folks are quick to forget as they live in the moment.  And sometimes, the moment is not the exact truth it needs to be.

But that's just me, and I tend to spend too much of my time remembering and harboring suspicions.

Below is the press release that came out of NASCAR about suspending A.J. Allmendinger.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 7, 2012) – Driver AJ Allmendinger has been temporarily suspended from NASCAR competition based upon notification of a positive "A" test NASCAR received from the Medical Review Officer as stated in Section 19-11B (6,7) of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy. Pursuant to the rule book, Allmendinger has the opportunity to request within the next 72 hours that his "B" sample be tested.

NASCAR will follow its policies and procedures set forth in the rule book in dealing with this matter.

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News From The Past Week... or So

Ryan Newman Foundation raises $155k for conservation and animal welfare efforts.
It was presented by Alltel Wireless as they try to squeeze everything they can out of their wanning days with Ryan. Of which I'm bummed. All my Ryan diecasts are Alltel. Now What!!??

They had 319 fishermen, and a different event with celebs and pro fishing guys.

Pretty cool. You can see more over on NASCAR.
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Here's a reminder: Drug Testing Commences for NASCAR in January.
NASCAR will start testing drivers in the 3rd week of Jan. while crew members must submit their own drug test results from approved labs no later than Jan 16th.

What was once a floating threat of an occasional drug test has become a standard regime of presence after the Aaron Fike scenario over in the truck series.

Now we see how it all goes. source
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Another one Bites the dust as Bill Davis Racing has sold majority ownership of both his race team and his engine company in an effort to stay afloat. Not sure you can call selling off the majority of your team as "staying afloat", but there it is.

Mike Held, a California businessman, and Marty Gaunt, an executive with Bill Davis Racing, are the new majority owners and have also taken control of Triad Racing Development, which supplied engines, chassis and bodies for all three of NASCAR's top series.

They've changed the name of the company to Triad Racing Technologies.

source
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NASCAR Settles
Like all large entities that see the cheaper side of litigation, the discriminatory litigation between NASCAR and Mauricia Grant has been settled.

And done so on mutually acceptable terms. Whatever acceptable terms could be from a $225 million lawsuit.

This was all in relation to 23 specific incidents of alleged sexual harassment and 34 specific incidents of alleged racial and gender discrimination during her employment in NASCAR, January 2005 until her October 2007, for the Nationwide series.

During this whole ordeal, NASCAR did fire 3 officials.

The specific terms of the settlement are confidential.

source: NASCAR Public Relations