NASCAR Drug Testing Nets 2nd Crew Member

A second crew member has been suspended indefinitely for violation of NASCAR's substance abuse policy.

It's the second suspension in the two months since NASCAR instituted a new drug testing policy for the 2009 season. As opposed to being concerned about having multiple violators, NASCAR officials say the findings confirm the integrity of the sport and its zero tolerance policy.

"We made a good program even better," NASCAR spokesmen Ramsey Poston said Wednesday. "What it shows is everyone is going to be tested. And it removes all doubt that the competitors at the track are clean."

John Boyd, who was a crew member on the No. 23 Nationwide Series team, joins Paul Chodora, a former Sprint Cup Series team member, as the first two people to test positive under the new and improved policy.

Both were part of a mandatory test for all drivers, crewmen and officials during season-opening Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway in February, however, Poston said Boyd's test results weren't confirmed until this week.

NASCAR's new policy requires everyone to be part of the massive preseason drug test and then a series of random tests -- the names generated by computer -- will be held at each race event. No one has been found to be in violation through the random tests.

Previously, NASCAR tested only because of reasonable suspicion with no formal format. But last year, Aaron Fike, a former Camping World Truck Series driver claimed to have competed in a 2007 race while under the influence of heroin. Drivers and teams were so outraged they called for tougher testing considering this is a sport where lives are on the line.

Seven drivers have been suspended since 2000, but only four were found through the previous random testing policy.

"NASCAR can test anyone, anywhere, for any reason, it's always had one of the broadest policies of any professional sport,'' Poston said.

"When you put it into perspective and look at the thousands of people we've tested, this confirms the sport is extremely clean in terms of substance abuse and we're very proud of that. This is a very small percentage.

"What we're seeing now is that with all the competitors tested, the sport is overwhelmingly free of substance abuse."

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-12-2009 @ 1:07AM

steve said...

this is a joke right? drug testing in NASCAR?

talk about Politically Correct meeting Retarded

3-12-2009 @ 5:53AM

obamaizadope said...

the sad part is nobody cares enough about brian france's nascar to give a damn..

3-12-2009 @ 8:56AM

JO ANN WHITAKER said...

Keep up the good work, Nascar.

3-12-2009 @ 9:05AM

Kim said...

I am not sure I understand the point in the above article. The lead in says, "NASCAR Drug Testing Nets 2nd Crew Member" but then the article goes on to state how NASCAR is proving there isn't a drug problem in their sport as the random testing is working. Huh? If NASCAR is randomly testing crew members and drivers and anyone of them is coming back testing positive for drugs, then yes the testing is working, but no the sport is not free from drug use.

I guess I would like to know just how often this "random testing" takes place and how many are tested at one time. Is it an entire team or just one or two random guys here and there? If the latter is the case, then yes, there appears to be some kind of problem when two crew members on two different teams testing positive within two weeks of each other.

It appears to me that the drivers aren't and shouldn't be the concern of the sanctioning body that is NASCAR, but that the crew members who handle hazardous materials and work in very dangerous conditions, are the concern.

This story made such huge headlines last year when NASCAR announced changes to their drug testing policy. While it is clear it appears to be a success as some are being caught in the "net," I still don't get how NASCAR and others can state there isn't a drug problem in NASCAR then? Is there or isn't there?

Kim

3-13-2009 @ 9:30AM

robert said...

Obamaizadope said "nobody cares enough about brian france's nascar to give a damn", but has still taken the time to post a comment on every nascar blog.

3-13-2009 @ 10:34AM

Don Emerson said...

Kim, the point of the article is that given the large number of people being tested, only finding 2 in violation proves that Nascar is relatively drug free. I'd be interested in learning if Nascar is testing for performance enhancing drugs as well as illegal narcotcs. Just for the record, the drug of choice for Nascar people has always been alcohol. I wonder if they check for that on race day. Can't you just see them passing out DUI tickets, or public intoxication citations on pit row. Too funny.......works for me

3-13-2009 @ 11:05AM

Don,

I wondered the same thing. Are they testing for performance enhancing drugs and alcohol as well? I would be much more concerned with a driver or a crew member being drunk than I would if they had just smoked a left-handed ciggy.

If any are on performance enhancing drugs, my bet would be on Carl Edwards. He seems to have "roid rage" on occasion and is extremely fit and in shape, almost oddly so. After each race, most drivers are winded, sweaty and exhausted looking. Never Carl. He always pops out of the car, does a back flip and acts like he could drive 500 more miles.

I guess my point was, there's been such a big deal made of this, where's the rest of the information? It just seems like we are getting bits and pieces of it. I would like to know more.

And yes, DUI tickets or citations on pit road would "work for me, too." That would be funny, indeed.

Kim

3-13-2009 @ 1:50PM

Does anyone else remember aaron fike getting busted shooting up heroin in a parking lot and getting banned from nascar? The last thing nascar is worried about is 'Roids'and alcohol! And, please, for crying out loud, stop with the whole 'carl edwards and steroids' crap! So now everybody thats works out and is in good shape is on steroids? Its not carls fault that some drivers (like tony stewart) have gotten fat and out of shape and are whipped physically every time they get out of their cars!

3-14-2009 @ 6:05AM

hilryshaves said...

so a couple of necks in the pits are doing drugs, who cares? it's not like nascar is a real sport, just ask espn..

3-14-2009 @ 8:39AM

nzcr14 said...

CARL HATEWARDS IS NOT ON DRUGS.
HE IS ON ADRENALINE SHOTS,LOL.It's true;his words few years ago.
Yeah last year we talked plenty about the nazcar and other sports drug problem when that what's his face driver got busted.WHAT HAS NAZCAR DONE SINCE THAN?...............................

RANDOM TESTING on a couple of driver or crew members out of 43 active driver and 430 active crew members each week.GEEZ,THEY REALLY STEPPED
HEAD ON TO THE PREOBLEM AH?
What a joke? ALCOHOL TESTING?YEAH RRIIGHT!
Just last year BRYAN FRANCE got convicted for drunkin driving here in daytona after he wrecked
a black lady sedan to the salvage yard (HER CAR)
and was driving ERRATICALLY DRUNK ON THE SIDEWALKS.GET THIS: HE DID NOT EVEN STOP TO CHECK IF THE LADY WAS HIRT. HE KEPT ON GOING.
COPPERS GOT TO HIS HOUSE FEW HOURS AFTER the rampage (from witness reports) and saw his damaged car. HIT AND RUN WITH PLENTY OF EVIDENCE.
AND CRIMINAL MISCHIEF( spelling may not be right). ...... and couple other charges. That's how went to court.
RUMORS keep circulating around town about BF SMOKING JOINTS TOO.
NAZCAR DRUG POLICY? GIMME A BREAK!
Works for me.. A.S

3-14-2009 @ 8:57AM

Oh that's right, i forgot to include the dozines of nazcar GESTAPO OFFICIAL around the track and garages that should be included in the drug testings and about ALL THE NAZCAR PRINCIPALS IN THE MAIN CONTROL TOWERS that call all the shots on penaltyes, on going racing events and anything else related to the race.
Total number of people involved in to the race probably adds up to a 1000,not counting all others NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED SOMEHOW in to the event.
OK, OK NASCAR RANDOM TESTED AND COOUGHT FEW FOOLS. WAAAHHH,what a successfull antinarcoti policy ah???? Does it work for us, DON E.? .......AS.

3-14-2009 @ 10:37AM

illsell4u said...

I agree, Anna. They should certainly be testing more than 12 people each week. 25 would be better along with testing some of the Nascar inspectors AND Nascar management. And it should be EVERY driver EVERY week. AND I have always thought that the testers should be the FIRST people to be tested. Just ask the State Trooper I told that to 25 years ago. I can tell you, he did not agree with me when I said it.
MBL

3-14-2009 @ 8:21PM

HI MIKE, just like the state trooper did not agree with you THE THIRD REICH BF & MIKE HILTON
(OOPS IT'S HELL TON)will not agree with ya.
NASCAR DRUG POLICY SEEMS JUST A COOLAID for the fans and others.
And imagine what would be the findings if NAZCAR was forced to begin alcohol testing on everybody?
WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH:
FIRST CATCHES UNDER INFLUENCE:
BRYAN FRANZEY- MIKE HELLTOWN- RICK PAMPERSTOWN.
LOL,LOL,,, AS. works not for me...

3-15-2009 @ 2:40PM

necks do drugs? stop the presses! and here I thought they were all Milton Friedman's in disguise...

3-15-2009 @ 11:05PM

dfresh said...

why dont we start drug testing people on wellfare or public aid

3-16-2009 @ 7:31AM

dfresh:

Agreed! Drug testing those on public assistance should be a requirement to continue to receive aid that we the taxpaying citizens pay for.

But then again, that's a political subject, one that would bring on much debate, I am sure.

Kim