NASCAR: No immediate changes to drug policy

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Thursday, July 02, 2009

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR does not plan any immediate changes to its substance-abuse policy in light of Jeremy Mayfield’s victory in obtaining a preliminary injunction forcing NASCAR to lift his suspension for an alleged positive drug test for methamphetamines, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Thursday.

U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen issued the injunction Wednesday, saying that the potential harm to Mayfield is greater than any harm to NASCAR because NASCAR can drug-test him daily to ensure the safety of the event.

Part of Mayfield’s case questions the guidelines that NASCAR must follow in its drug-testing policy. Mayfield argues that NASCAR must follow the guidelines for federal agencies; NASCAR contends that it does not have to do so.

NASCAR will continue with its random drug-testing policy, which it implemented this year, during this weekend’s events at Daytona International Speedway just as it has done all year, Poston said.

“The policy is good,” Poston said. “At least for the short term, we’re going to continue on with the current substance-abuse policy. Any time any policy is changed, you learn a lot, and there’s information you get, so maybe down the road, once the dust settles, we will take a look back and see if there are some things that we can do differently to make it stronger.”

Poston said he is not aware of any challenges from any crew members suspended this year under the policy, and he did not think the ruling would prompt challenges.

“The judge’s order does not open the door to anything in the past,” Poston said. “What happened yesterday was a temporary injunction and was not the conclusion to the lawsuit. This is one very small part of a much larger process.”

Poston said NASCAR is still deciding whether to appeal Mullen’s decision on the injunction to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Comments

7 responses to "NASCAR: No immediate changes to drug policy". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    debdawg007 said:
    Jul 2, 2009 at 1:33 PM

    Awe, the irony that the Carl Edwards Claritin ad randomly pops up with this story...LOL

    Even if Jeremy isn't on meth, I wouldn't want to be racing next to a guy at 200mph is has taken 2 24-hour Claritin's at the same time.

    People get high/buzzed off over-the-counter cold meds when washing it down with for example a can of Red Bull.

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  2. 2
    rmdunn3 said:
    Jul 2, 2009 at 4:41 PM

    WHAT.....according to the first artice on here, it says that the drivers have said that what use to take 5-10 mins now takes like up to 40, because it is more intensive, they have several more steps to go through and fill out a form with 20 questions on it. They also have to sign the form of the person taking the sample, etc.
    So I would say this article is false, since there have already been changes.

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  3. 3
    fast3forme said:
    Jul 2, 2009 at 4:59 PM

    The caffeine in four Mt. Dews would be enough to get you tweaking. Caffeine's probably not on their list of banned stimulants though.

    Nascar says no immediate changes to their policy, but they don't tell you they've already learned their lesson, the policy has been revamped, (see Kasey and Tony), and soon they'll be taken to the bank. I bet they switched labs too. That's what happens when a lab depends on volume, instead of quality.

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  4. 4
    Anonymous said:
    Jul 2, 2009 at 6:25 PM

    Nascar officials are eating crow

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  5. 5
    bthompson133 said:
    Jul 2, 2009 at 9:05 PM

    being in constrution i have taken dozens of tests for employment, they were all done within a day and i had to sign the seal tape and watch it be sealed. if this wasn't done it was IMPROPER and should not be valid.

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  6. 6
    21801 said:
    Jul 3, 2009 at 12:13 PM

    #1.
    What would you rather have,Someone snezzing,watery eyes,coughing racing next to you or claritin d. lmao

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  7. 7
    21801 said:
    Jul 3, 2009 at 12:14 PM

    #4,5
    That's right

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