Comments on: NASCAR Making Progress With Drug Testing

By: SL

SL — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:09:50 +0000

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.]

By: Richard in N.C.

Richard in N.C. — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:29:05 +0000

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.

By: Phil Stigers

Phil Stigers — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:44:55 +0000

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

By: djones

djones — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:01:41 +0000

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?

By: Ali

Ali — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:50:51 +0000

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…

By: T.C.

T.C. — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:57:10 +0000

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.

By: Diandra

Diandra — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:27:17 +0000

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

By: T.C.

T.C. — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:12:33 +0000

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…

By: Neon

Neon — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:14:40 +0000

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….

By: Marc

Marc — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:04:55 +0000

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?