TC, have you heard anything that NASCAR is planning to make more information available to the teams about the testing system and banned substances or maybe hold workshops?

I believe Black was reacting to Mayfield’s admission to his use of Claritin D. What is the more likely substance tested for is the drugs ingredient, pseudoephedrine.

Pseudoephedrine in the body can cause sleeplessness, nervousness, excitability, dizziness and anxiety. And keep in mind allegedly it was taken with another drug given to him by a doctor.

The problem now is NASCAR’s lack of a specific list of drugs that are banned and those that can give a false positive.

For example, Motrin, Bayer Select Pain Relief Formula or Excedrin can pop a false positive for Marijuana.

Nyquil, Contact, Sudafed (also known as Claritin D), Allerest and Dimetapp can all turn up as Ecstacy or Amphetamine usage.

Special note to “Dano” you and the rest of the conspiracy theorists you can stick that junk where the sun don’t shine.

NASCAR doesn’t administer the test and have no say in how they are given.

Aegis Labs has total control of the program and is the largest independent sports, forensic and clinical toxicology testing laboratory in the United States.

If any of you conspiracy nuts thinks they would risk their reputation and a multi-million dollar business to produce fake results, or use results to single out certain people at NASCAR’s direction you nuttier than a Snickers Bar.

Keep in mind that my post doesn’t take a stance either way on Mayfield’s situation. I used the post to voice my concerns about the drug testing policies that stemmed from his positive test, but I’m not siding either way. I don’t personally know what he took or why he tested positive. If he was on something he shouldn’t have been on, then obviously he deserves to be punished. I am a crew member who is on pit road every weekend, and I don’t want a driver on something to come barreling down pit road at me.

I also don’t have a problem with NASCAR. In most cases, they do a good job of running the sport. I certainly don’t have a vendetta against them, but if I see something I don’t agree with, I’m going to use this as a forum to put my opinions out there and open it for reader discussion. In this case, I would like to see the rules be a little more clear about what is right and wrong, and I would like there to be resources available to me if I have questions. At this point, I don’t feel either has or is happening.

Hopefully Jeremy and any of the crewman who have issues due to ignorace can have their lives put back together. The one problem with this is that benefit of the doubt is not an option and banned substance is a banned substance because for every guy who oops there is another one who knew exactly what was in it and that’s why he took it. Kind of like the alcoholic who drinks mouthwash solely for the alcohol content.

I find it interesting that reporters/bloggers, whose life is not at risk, want to give a drug abuser a pass. On the other hand, drivers who are at risk, applaud the system and are glad the policy is working.

The first sentance in Jeremy’s statement was that he “immensly supported ” NASCAR’s current policy and procedures. Then he admitted that what he took was why he was supended from the garage. Now of course he wants all to believe that 2 drugs he took morphed into a banned substance.

So, Jeremy does not blame NASCAR nor does he blame the Lab for producing a false positive. He just says he can explain it.

Ricky Craven and Elliott Sadler have said that every driver has a number to call to verify they can take a certain medication. Ricky said he called to check on taking Claritin D and he was given the okay to take it. Elliott said that every driver has Dr Black’s cell phone number.

So, Jeremy is not dennying he tested positive, he just has an explanation, which does not matter. He had a phone number, he knew the rules (good grief he just had a team member caught) and he still took “something.”

If he sticks to his story, he will have to find a forensic scientist with a PhD, just like Dr Black, to say that what he did morphed into a controlled drug. I say good luck.

There are privacy and legal issues about what Aegis or NASCAR can release about the results of the tests on Jeremy Mayfield – but I have not seen anywhere that there is any restriction on Jeremy’s releasing the report he received from NASCAR. There are far too many people in the media who have a definite anti-NASCAR bias and are determined to find fault in anything NASCAR does.

Excellent advice, Licker.

I’ll add: Don’t ever under any circumstances eat a poppyseed bagel.