January 24th, 2010 
T.C. Amid all of the hub bub from last week’s Media Tour, it was announced that NASCAR was adding the drug policy to it’s rule book for each series. The 2009 season was the first for a hard and fast policy against substance abuse for NASCAR, and needless to say, it didn’t go so well. An actual written policy or list of banned substances was never really published, so the news that NASCAR is finally putting one out is certainly a step in the right direction.
Since we started this site in April 2008, we’ve written about drugs and testing no less then seven times (and that doesn’t count the majority of the Mayfield posts). You can see those old posts by browsing around this link. One of those posts I wrote in May of last year addressed this issue specifically. In it, I wrote:
As a NASCAR licensee and hard card holder, I’ve suddenly realized that my career could be in serious jeopardy because I don’t know what I can and can’t use. I’m not a doctor, and I’m not up on what is against the rules and what isn’t. I’m certainly not using any performance enhancers, and I don’t use recreational drugs, but this really scares me.
Now, that the official policy has been put out there, I feel a ton better about the testing program.
I’ve actually seen the full version of the policy and while I won’t recreate it here (not sure if it’s allowed) I will tell you that the text covers prohibited substances, medications, alcohol, supplements, testing, disciplinary action, and self-reporting among other things. The policy applies to drivers, crew members, and officials.
While I can’t pronounce most of the substances listed (see dehydryochlormethyltestosterone), it’s comforting to know that we at least have something we can refer to in the event we have a question about a substance or the testing procedure. NASCAR cannot claim to have an effective policy without having a list of banned substances and a published version of the policy for all to see.
Now that we’ve gotten a list though, I still think NASCAR should take more from the other sports leagues’ policies and implement things like a drug hotline. I’ve heard that the drivers can call the infamous Dr. David Black with questions about the policy, but there needs to be a liaison for the crew members as well. They need to give us every opportunity to make sure we are doing things right and not putting substances into our bodies that may cause us to test positive.
After a rough rookie campaign for the drug policy, we certainly have to give NASCAR credit for continuing to improve on it. The nature of substance abuse is constantly changing, and NASCAR needs to be diligent in making sure their policy changes with it. They now have a solid base to work from, but more improvements are still needed.
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I have taken Adderrall (whose generic name is methamphetamine salts) every day for the last 14 years. Which means, yes, I drove while under it’s “influence.” Without it I feel I would be a much worse driver. It’s a medical condition. Would that exclude me from driving? I hope this policy does not put a blanket policy over every driver in situations like this. However, I don’t want another “Mayfield” episode either. In addition, while partially off topic I don’t want any NASCAR driver who doesn’t hold a valid state drivers license on the track either (AJ Allmendinger.) both Mayfield and Allmendinger showed dangerous and irresponsible behavior. Ironic how NASCAR has been able to measure race cars down to less than in inch in specs, but can’t control it’s drivers. After allots the drivers capable of killing, not the race cars. I hope NASCAR’s focus shifts further toward the side of safety while ensuring the consistency of race cars overall.
One note, several of the stories published on the drug list noted that NASCAR said the complete banned list was issued to all owners prior to the 2009 season.
Presumably that’s true, what have you guys heard, was it in fact given to the owners last year?
I wonder if the pain killers for Denny Hamlin’s ACL injury will “pass the test”?
I suspect Brad K was covering him in that pick-up basketball game. Hmmmm….
Marc: That may be true, but I know a few higher ranking folks within teams who didn’t see one until the Mayfield lawsuit. Either way, showing the owners a banned substances list doesn’t do the crew guys who it affects any good if they never see it…
TC: It seems from what I hear that some owners get the word before other owners and that in some teams, word filters down to the ‘rank and file’ (i.e. the guys who actually work) rather quickly, whereas at other teams, they read about it on the Internet and have to go ask their management. Is my perception right or have I been talking to a non-representative subset of people?
DLP
Diandra: You are definitely right about your perception of the teams. Some are certainly better then others about the exchange of information. I believe part of the problem too is that teams are still trying to learn how to handle the drug testing policy and what they need to relay to their employees about staying in compliance. Love your site by the way, I’m going to go ahead and throw you in our blog roll.
I still can’t believe this issue wasn’t discussed before the whole Mayfield debacle, (which, I have to be honest, I’m not 100% convinced of his guilt) or was it, and I just missed it? I can’t believe no one ever said, “Hey guys, don’t shoot up before a race, okay?”, or something along those lines. Or did NASCAR just assume common sense would win out, and the drivers would know better? You know what happens when you assume…
Why wasn’t the drug testing procedure already in the rulebook? Like way before the Mayfield issue. With all the rule changes NASCAR implements, I’m guessing a new one is published every year.
If true that the owners got the list of banned substances, what was Jeremy’s excuse? He was an owner (for a minute) in 2009. Unlike a driver or crew guy, he can’t use that excuse about not seeing the list. And why didn’t other owners plaster that list all over the garage, lunchroom and bathrooms?
Are the banned substances listed as their pharm name or brand name?
I took my fifth “drug test” about four years ago for my “nationally known employer”. No drugs-No sweat … right? About a week later, I was asked to take another test. Why, I asked? Just routine, they commented. Two days later, I was suspended indefinately. Long story short – I had tested positively for Meth and/or Speed. Not only did I not take these drugs, I didn’t even know what what they were. It took nine months (and a $6,500 legal bill) to prove my innocence. Turns out, it was (?) a LEGAL combination of cough syrup (NYQUIL and an Over the counter muscle relaxer that I’d taken for almost two years. The “Company” eventually paid my legal fees and
I thought one of the court filings, by one side or the other, last summer stated that the team owners were provided a list of specific prohibited substances before the teams had to test their employees before going to Daytona for the 500.
I am glad you enjoyed the improvements in the NASCAR policy. And you are right, there needs to be a liaison and navigator for the teams.
[Note to T.C.: that is what I do. Take a look at my website to see who I am and why I am more qualified to do this than anyone.]