NASCAR needs clearer drug policy
Is there a drug problem in NASCAR? Most people don’t think there is a problem, but most of them will agree that there is no viable drug policy in NASCAR.
The major sports organizations have drug testing policies of various degrees. MLB, the NFL and the NBA have random drug testing policies, many brought on by threats from Congress. Due to the nature of the sport, these major sports organizations have concentrated lately on the use of performance enhancing drugs. In each of these sports, the athlete can clearly gain an advantage through the use of steroids.
Strength and muscles’man vs. man’this is what the ball-and-stick organizations must keep on the up and up. This is not the case in NASCAR. Reflex and nerves are what make the skilled driver a champion. In NASCAR, mind-altering substances are the danger. In everyday life we see far too many deaths and accidents attributed to drugs and alcohol.
Imagine a driver on mind-altering drugs racing around in 3,450-pound vehicles traveling at speeds up to 200 mph. There are 42 other drivers relying on him to make the right decisions.
When Aaron Fike revealed to ‘ESPN The Magazine’ that he was addicted to pain killers for six years prior to his arrest last summer for heroin, some of the top drivers in NASCAR began talking. Fike admitted that he used heroin during races and this is what bothered these drivers. They do not believe that NASCAR’s drug testing policy is effective.
NASCAR’s Substance Abuse Policy, which has been in effect since the late 1980’s, allows NASCAR to administer drug tests virtually anytime, anywhere, based on ‘reasonable suspicion.’ Prior to his arrest, Fike never tested positive for any banned substance. He was caught, not by NASCAR, but by the police. Seven NASCAR drivers have been suspended for substance abuse in the past eight years. Three of them were caught by law enforcement officers. Four drivers in eight years. Is NASCAR that clean? Most people hope so.
Imagine the other drivers racing next to a driver that has previously tested positive for illegal drugs. Is he (or she) on drugs now? With the machines they drive and at the speeds they travel, you can’t be worrying about the other driver. NASCAR puts a yellow stripe on the back bumpers to delineate rookie drivers. Maybe a red stripe should be used to identify past drug users.
The complaint that some drivers are voicing today is that NASCAR does not test enough. Kevin Harvick, Jimmy Johnson, Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart have all stated that they have never been tested by NASCAR during their careers. They all say that NASCAR should randomly test everyone involved in racing on a regular basis, not just by suspecting someone. Nobody suspected Aaron Fike.
Just what is ‘reasonable suspicion’ anyway? If someone does something out of the ordinary, is that ‘reasonable suspicion’? I can think of many instances that could arouse suspicion. Alan Kulwicki and his Polish Victory Lap. Edwards and his backwards flip off of his car. Stewart climbing the track fence. Could these be ‘reasonable suspicion’? Testing has to be done randomly on a regular basis and not just in Cup racing. Due to the nature of the sport, all racing organizations must test for illegal substances regularly.
‘ Justin Allgaier finished second in his ARCA race this past Saturday. I was somewhat disappointed in that he definitely had the best race car that day.
The race showed how important pit crews are to a race team as Justin lost from three to seven positions every time he pitted. He always raced back to the lead, but ran out of laps after his last stop and only finished second. He still leads the points race.