May 14th, 2009 
Journo We are now five days into Mayfield-gate and I am sure everyone is starting to get sick of hearing about drugs, drug testing, positive tests for drugs etc. I understand. So in advance I apologize for adding one more blog post to the plethora that exist.
I can’t say I much thought about NASCAR’s response to this whole thing at the moment, but as the week has gone on and I have thought about it, it has bothered me more and more.
Prior to Jim Hunter’s press conference Saturday there was an announcement that a driver had failed a test. Now I understand they wanted people to go to the media center, but all it did was stoke rumor mongering. I read on forums after the fact, people trying to guess who said driver was. And I don’t blame them.
Maybe I’ve just thought about this too much, but it feels like they were trying to make this bigger than it was already going to be. Ultimately the story ended up on the front page of most major news organizations.
That really is the lesser of my two issues though. Splashed along with Mayfield were the names of two crew members. Two ordinary guys who without a doubt made some bad decisions and were caught. They signed NASCAR’s drug policy and they knew if they were caught they would be suspended. I have no pity for that.
My issue though lies in the fact that these guys (and others before them) had their names published and re-published with no recourse. Unlike a driver they have no means for launching a public defense. No one cares. They don’t have a public relations person and the team is certainly not going to back them up. They are private citizens thrust into very public situations. And as a result their reputations are damaged beyond repair. None of these people are likely to ever work in the sport again.
Ultimately I don’t know what the purpose of publishing crew members’ names is; other than the shame of it. Maybe NASCAR is trying to earn some credibility on the drug testing issue.
It seems to me this is an issue for the employers and NASCAR to work out privately, just like it is with every other employer in this country. And honestly how many of you care that John Doe with Team X was suspended because he failed a drug test? I really don’t.
Just my two cents.
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Drug testing is a way of life for many people today. Whether you are a truck driver or work in the nuclear field, you can count on random testing. Most employers require pre-hire tests. I don’t really care who does not get a job at Walmart for failing a drug test. I’m not sure I give a hoot about NASCAR crew members. But when it is a driver, that is news. Further I care because they are the ones that the sport is all about. If NASCAR just suspended the driver without a reason, it would be worse than is the present case. I think NASCAR and the driver should both be honest about what the drug or banned substance was. This would make it easier to accept JM back if and when he ever gets reinstated.
I totally agree with You !!! I am in the Transportation business. I conduct our Drug testing program. By USDOT rules, I Can Not share the name of ANY Positive Test with Anyone aside from the Employee, and the Owner of the company.
I think NASCAR is setting the table for a pretty nasty lawsuit from all the “guilty” parties especially since it has not released the specific drugs nor the drug limits that it is testing for. That along with not respecting privacy is just not appropriate for any company in this day in age.
NASCAR still likes to refer to itself as a good old boy sport but it still needs to play by the rules of today.
Nascar has shown in the past that a lifetime ban does not mean “lifetime”. Shane Hmiel and Kevin Grubb were both reinstated. Neither of them was able to stay clean but they were given another chance.
Perhaps Nascar should look into treatment options for these men. I know they are not Nascar employees, but Nascar can afford it. I don’t know if their current policy allows for reinstatement in the future or not. It if does it seems like a shame for them to ruin the reputation of these men and then let them back in.
Of course, it’s not possible to keep a secret in Nascar, so could it ever be kept quiet?
It’s too bad that NASCAR has to resort to these tactics to call attention to themselves. If they got Jeremy , just say he is on the “physically unable to perform” list like the NFL does it. That way they don’t have to say why. Maybe a family matter etc. Noooo, they come out & do their magic trick without disclosing. And no reason for even disclosing one word about the crew guys. I was tested at work countless times, and if caught, very few, if anyone there would have known about it. I really doubt whether NASCAR is credible any more. They are too concerned with being “all about themselves”
I think it should be a private matter. It could be termed a medical condition and let the speculation begin.
On an entirely different note-I think our elected officials should be drug tested and results made public. They present a far greater danger to me than a NASCAR driver or crew member ever will.
Rick, that may be the smartest thing I have ever heard a person say.
Rick – VERY GOOD.
I’m not really clear about when or who released the crew members names, but part of the drug testing arrangement is supposed to be deterence. Also, if the names had not been released, then any crew member in the garage who “vanished” Saturday would immediately be under suspicion of having failed the drug test – even if they had to leave suddenly due to a family emergency.
Bobby#7Fan, I agree with you. Rick, you are one smart man.
All NASCAR has to say is it wasn’t pseudoephedrine sulfate which is the active ingredient in Claritan-D, the supposed OTC drug used. They said it wasn’t alcohol so they could say it wasn’t pseudoephedrine sulfate (legally speaking). If it’s not this OTC that pumps so much money into NASCAR, then just say it and get over all of the speculation. If it is, that’s why you don’t here word one from NASCAR.
@Bobby#7fan
You are missing 2 points:
1. The ban is indefinite, not lifetime. Indefinite is we’re going to ban you until we see fit to reinstate you. Lifetime, should mean no chance in heck that we are going to reinstate you (which you pointed out is not always the case.)
2. Some of the conditions reported for being re-instated are to work with Dr. Black to develop a treatment program. After successful completion of the program and with the approval of Dr. Black, the suspended parties can apply for reinstatement. So NASCAR is working to help those that test positive for a banned substance.
Robyn, thank you for clearing that up. I have read and heard such an amazing volume about this policy since the start of the season I could not remember if treatment was part of it.
I don’t know about you but where I live, if you get arrested for a DUI then your name get published in the Police Blotter in the local paper, there are several areas of the country that post your name in the paper if you are arrested for soliciting prostitution. My opinion is that NASCAR did not ruin their reputation nor embarass them, they did it all by themselves!!
Tracy- Getting a DUI on a public street is a matter of public concern and public record. Failing a drug test given by your employer or a sanctioning body (when your a crew member) is not a matter of public concern or public record. I’m certainly not defending someone using drugs and I certainly think their employer should be made well aware of the situation, but for them to put it in a news release to major media outlets is a little much.