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A NASCAR BLOG BY Steve Waid
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NASCAR has a chance to make its drug policy a better one
May
4
NASCAR Vice President of Communications Jim Hunter announced on May 2 at Richmond International Raceway that CEO Brian France would appoint a panel to study the sanctioning body’s current drug testing policies, and, perhaps, to suggest that they should be modified.
Among the things the panel will consider are the possible appointment of a substance abuse specialist and random drug testing.
Hunter said the panel would be composed of company officials “who have been around a long time and know the sport.”
Hunter said he expected the panel to report any recommendations to France within six weeks but that any changes to the policy would not be enacted until 2009.
As has been widely reported, NASCAR’s drug testing policy came under question after Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike, who has been convicted on drug charges, admitted in an article in ESPN The Magazine that he competed in races while under the influence of heroin.
NASCAR’s current policy is that it does not test without “reasonable suspicion.” After Fike’s revelation, a storm of controversy arose as many alarmed competitors said the system was inadequate and demanded that the sanctioning body adopt random testing.
While NASCAR has strenuously defended its current policy, it’s likely it also wanted to avoid the perception that random testing suggests that, among its competitors, it has a drug problem.
If we are to believe the sincerity of the drivers - and there is no reason not to - when they say they welcome random testing, then NASCAR certainly does not have a problem.
But that makes no difference.
As much as NASCAR has told us that it has a very strong and severe policy, there’s likely no such thing as one that is perfect.
And NASCAR’s isn’t – which is obvious, don’t you think?
But it can be so much better.
I assume NASCAR has created this new panel to make that so, based upon what it recommends.
And if that panel suggests that a substance abuse specialist and random testing are required – among other things - then that’s what should happen.
NASCAR should throw perceptions aside. They matter little against safety.
There will be no complaints from the competitors because it’s what they want.
And, frankly, it’s what NASCAR needs.
Among the things the panel will consider are the possible appointment of a substance abuse specialist and random drug testing.
Hunter said the panel would be composed of company officials “who have been around a long time and know the sport.”
Hunter said he expected the panel to report any recommendations to France within six weeks but that any changes to the policy would not be enacted until 2009.
As has been widely reported, NASCAR’s drug testing policy came under question after Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike, who has been convicted on drug charges, admitted in an article in ESPN The Magazine that he competed in races while under the influence of heroin.
NASCAR’s current policy is that it does not test without “reasonable suspicion.” After Fike’s revelation, a storm of controversy arose as many alarmed competitors said the system was inadequate and demanded that the sanctioning body adopt random testing.
While NASCAR has strenuously defended its current policy, it’s likely it also wanted to avoid the perception that random testing suggests that, among its competitors, it has a drug problem.
If we are to believe the sincerity of the drivers - and there is no reason not to - when they say they welcome random testing, then NASCAR certainly does not have a problem.
But that makes no difference.
As much as NASCAR has told us that it has a very strong and severe policy, there’s likely no such thing as one that is perfect.
And NASCAR’s isn’t – which is obvious, don’t you think?
But it can be so much better.
I assume NASCAR has created this new panel to make that so, based upon what it recommends.
And if that panel suggests that a substance abuse specialist and random testing are required – among other things - then that’s what should happen.
NASCAR should throw perceptions aside. They matter little against safety.
There will be no complaints from the competitors because it’s what they want.
And, frankly, it’s what NASCAR needs.
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Comments
2 responses to "NASCAR has a chance to make its drug policy a better one"
Susan Martinez said:
May 7, 2008 at 4:54 PMWhat is wrong with everyone the wreck between Jr. and Kyle was just a racing incident but because Jr. was involved OMG. If it had been anyone but Jr. NOBODY would be making such a big deal about it
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWorm Dirt said:
May 10, 2008 at 11:15 PMAs patriotic as the NASCAR "masses" are.... this subject and it's knee-jerk reaction.... and the relentless milking of it by desperate "journalists".... is disappointing to say the least. PLEASE Mr. Waid....please....GET MAD AT THE OWNER (EMPLOYER) THAT HIRED THE SMACK FIEND THAT RACED IN THE TRUCK SERIES..... but don't keep milking this non-relevant garbage to pander to the "what's right is right (with a self-righteous crooked frown on their face)" herd. THERE IS NO DRUG PROBLEM IN NASCAR!........ MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Wake up and smell the 6x6x6 coolers filled with nothing but refreshing heart-smart fruit juices!! This sport has 9,000,000,000 angles but....instead of tackling something original... evryone just seems to want to strike a pose and APPEAR persecuted. Whatever....
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Report