AJ Allmendinger should have been suspended
Drunk driving is an extremely serious offense for anyone, a massive error in judgment that can put lives at risk.
AJ Allmendinger was charged with driving while impaired early Thursday morning, and while his case has yet to play out in the criminal justice system, NASCAR and Richard Petty Motorsports have already shown they are not taking Allmendinger’s incident seriously.
I was pleased NASCAR took action when I read a headline on a press release yesterday that said, “Driver AJ Allmendinger Penalized Due to Rule Violation.”
But when I read the release, I learned all NASCAR had given Allmendinger was its flimsy “probation,” which has never proven to be a deterrent or actual punishment for anything.
NASCAR or RPM should have parked Allmendinger for at least one race as a result of his offense. Not doing so shows an attitude that doesn’t reflect how serious drunk driving can be – especially for a race-car driver, who should be held to a higher standard when it comes to driving-related incidents.
Whether or not Allmendinger committed his offense at the track doesn’t change what he did. Since NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell took over, he has not hesitated to take a hard-line stance on any player who commits a crime – regardless of where it occurred.
Recently, wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth was suspended for the entire season after a DUI manslaughter charge. And Goodell sent a letter to every NFL team in June, informing them that any player caught drunk driving would be subject to suspension.
On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released offensive lineman Marcus Johnson following a DUI arrest earlier that morning.
NASCAR should take even more of a tough stance on drunk driving than the NFL does. Unfortunately, by not even sitting Allmendinger for one week, the sanctioning body has dropped the ball.
