Allmendinger is Out Indefinitely!!

By Sherri Breaton

Penske Driver A.J. Allmendinger was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR
Photo courtesy of NASCAR.com

Despite it being an off week in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, there was still lots of news happening around the tracks.

 A. J. Allmendinger has been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR following his failure to pass the “B” test sample provided following a positive “A” test a few weeks ago for a banned “stimulant”. Allmendinger maintains that he did not knowingly ingest any banned substance and has even suggested that he may have come from a stimulant. He recently signed on with sponsor “Fuel in a Bottle”. It is unclear if this could have been the cause.

His business manager, Tara Ragan, said that the driver is still waiting for information to determine what caused the positive test. NASCAR has since revealed that the substance was amphetamine:

 “He has no idea why the test was positive, and he has never knowingly taken any prohibited substance. A.J. is collecting his medicines and supplements for testing to determine whether an over-the-counter product caused his positive test” Ragan stated following the test outcome.

Allmendinger has chosen to enter the “Road to Recovery” path to reinstatement. David Black, NASCAR’s substance abuse program administrator said that the timetable for Allmendinger's potential return is unclear. It can take Allmendinger anywhere from a few months to more than a year to be reinstated.

Black also went on to state that he would be surprised to learn that the positive result came from a supplement. As Black explained to ESPN:

“On every positive test we have, we look to rule out the possibility of a supplement being involved. Of course, we have not identified the drug (this has since changed) but I'm not aware of any commercial products that would have influenced the test outcome."

NASCAR's substance abuse policy bans stimulants including amphetamine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Eve (MDEA), MDA, PMA, Phentermine and other amphetamine derivatives and related compounds.

Just hours after the revelation became public, Allmendinger took to Twitter to say a few words (all words sic’d):

"I just want to say thank you first and foremost for all if u sticking by me. Please dont think me being means i havent been reading all ur / Support. And man, it means more than u eill ever know. Im sorry we even have to have this going on. But i promise..i will do whatever it / Takes to get to the bottom of this and get back our there no matter what. Thanks guys."

Typically, the grammar police of Twitterland kicked the poor guy when he was down and in no time he was being ridiculed for his poor English skills. He later tweeted:

"Hey..sorry to u guys jumping on my spelling..it wasnt a "pr" statement..it was me typing from my heart...sorry it wasnt perfect".

Sam Hornish Jr., who subbed for Allmendinger at Daytona and New Hampshire, will again drive the No. 22 car this weekend at Indianapolis and in the following race at Pocono.

Kasey Kahne is riding on a post win high after stealing a win away from Denny Hamlin in New Hampshire July 15^th, 2012. A major communication screw up between Hamlin and crew chief Darian Grubb in the pits cost Hamelin the win after he had been leading 150 of the 300 one-mile laps.

Kasey Kahne celebrates in victory lane at Louden holding the
traditional "lobsta"
Photo courtesy of NASCAR.com

"Darian asked me how much of the tires I felt I'd used up. I felt like I had used up a substantial amount," Hamlin said. "(I said) give me tires and no adjustments. He thought I meant four tires. Nothing's a given. Even though it looked like we had one in the bag if we took two tires, you never know."  Apparently Hamlin only wanted two tires.

Kahne took advantage of the foul up and on the restart jumped in to first on lap 240 while Hamlin restarted 13^th.   The victory for Kahne made him start looking like an actual Cup contender and helped his chances of qualifying for the Chase (the last 10 races of the season in which the top 10 drivers in the point standings win automatic berths). Two additional spots go to the drivers with the most wins who are ranked 11th to 20th in points.

Kahne went from 16th to 12th, and his two wins are more than anyone in the second group of 10. The win was the fifth of the year for Hendrick Motorsports in 19 races. Seven remain before the Chase begins at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., on Sept. 16.

Just when NASCAR fans can not possibly take any more ridicule directed at them, 72 year old Linda Chase of Michigan gives them more ammo. Last month police discovered that Ms. Chase had been keeping her 67 year old friend Charles Zigler’s mummified dead body in his apartment since approximately 2010. Once a week she would dress him, clean him and sit with him so that they could enjoy the NASCAR race on TV. Oh she was also cashing his social security checks probably to pay for the beer and Doritos. Who say’s we NASCAR fans aren’t “die hard”??

On a more “lively” note, NASCAR Chairman, Brian France made a statement about his commitment to making changes in the sport:

"There aren't a whole lot of people who don't want to see more lead changes, or a photo finish, or slamming and banging coming out of the fourth turn."

"It's a contact sport and if you have a chance to win and are in second place on the last lap, would I expect there to be some contact if you have a faster car? Absolutely...we want to see what everybody else wants to see - excitement."

Bring it!

Sunday we resume racing as we go green at the Brickyard in Indy for the Curtiss Shaver 400. Let’s see who is fast enough to kiss the bricks when the checkered flag flies!

The Lowe's 48 Team of Jimmie Johnson kissing the bricks
at the Brickyard
Photo courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports

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Allmendinger Requests "B" Sample Tested

By Sherri Breaton

A.J. Allmendinger addresses the media following a failed
random drug test.
Photo courtesy of NASCAR.com

In an attempt to clear his name, Penske driver A.J. Allmendinger exercised his rights today in asking that an independent laboratory test the backup sample provided last week. 

"I have informed NASCAR that I have requested that the 'B' sample be tested, following the steps according to NASCAR's 2012 rule book regarding this situation," Allmendinger said in a statement released by the team. "I fully respect NASCAR's drug usage policy and the reasons they have it. I am hoping this can get resolved as quickly as possible so that I can get back to driving the No. 22 Penske Racing Dodge.

"I am sorry that this has caused such a distraction for my Penske Racing team, our sponsors and fans. Obviously I would never do anything to jeopardize my opportunity here at Penske Racing or to my fellow drivers. I am very conscious about my training and health and would never knowingly take a prohibited drug."

Due to the uncertainty of Allmendinger's status, Sam Hornish Jr. has been added to the entry list for Sunday's race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. 

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“Smoke” takes Daytona and Allmendinger Takes Drugs??

By Sherri Breaton

 Tony Stewart picked up his 47^th win in 482 starts following a wild night at the Coca Zero 400 at the Daytona International Speedway July 8, 2012. It was his fourth Sprint Cup victory at the track yet the “big prize” – the Daytona 500 has continued to elude him.

Crew chief Steve Addington gets ready to soak Tony Stewart
with champagne in Victory Lane
Photo courtesy of NASCAR.com



"I don't know, but I'll trade 'em all in for just one Daytona 500," Stewart said of his four summertime wins. "This is 18 wins at Daytona -- we just haven't got the right one yet. But all of 'em are special, and it's cool to do this."

As per usual in Daytona, just as Tony was crossing the finish line, total mayhem was occurring in his rear view mirror. A previous wreck caused by Denny Hamlin had already taken out quite a few in the field. Two out of three of Michael Waltrip’s cars were out, as was all of Joe Gibbs’ Racing Team. On the restart, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle were side by side by and somehow Tony Stewart side-drafted the two of them and pulled ahead for the victory.

Carnage outside of Turn 4
Photo courtesy of NASCAR.com

Jeff Burton came second followed by Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano, Stewart’s team mate Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Brad Kesolowski, Michael Waltrip and one of my favourite drivers, Bobby Labonte rounded out the top ten.

On a side note, Joey Logano’s Nationwide car failed inspection following the Subway Jalapeno 250 Friday night. Penalties are expected to be levied on Tuesday.

I am not really a fan of watching restrictor plate racing on TV. Having not yet experienced it in person at a track, I can’t speak to what it’s like to watch live. If you are not normally a NASCAR viewer and/or are one of those people with the skewed ideal that “all they do is drive around in a circle”, you should probably not watch restrictor plate tracks. Yes it is exciting to see the cars quite literally stuck to each other’s bumpers at ridiculously high speeds, but unless there is a wreck, that’s all you are going to see.

Can you just scootch over a bit please?
Photo courtesy of NASCAR.com

The sideshow of the Allmendinger drama made for some interesting moments off and on track. A.J. Allmendinger, the driver of the #22 car for Penske, had been informed only two and a half hours prior to the green flag start that he failed his random drug test performed last week in Kentucky.

NASCAR announced that he was temporarily suspended for failing to pass his “A” sample which included a banned substance. Allmendinger as the option to ask for his “B” sample to be tested within 24 hours.

If his “B” sample comes back positive, he will be indefinitely suspended and will not be allowed to drive until he completes a recovery program prescribed by NASCAR. He would be evaluated by a substance abuse professional and subsequently be required to enter a rehabilitation program would be tailored specifically for him. He is only the second Sprint Cup driver to be suspended since NASCAR began random testing in 2009.  Jeremy Mayfield shared the honour in 2009.

Sam Hornish Jr., literally turned into a superhero and bolted into action to take over driving duties for Penske. Kenny Wallace was on standby (poor guy was on standby for Kevin Harvick too in case his wife Delana went into labour...sigh..I love Kenny!), just in case Hornish could not get to the track in time. He was literally doing a live, in-studio race interview for Speed in Charlotte, NC when his phone went off in his pocket. He ignored the call but checked soon after the taping and sprung into action.

Penske arranged for him to hop a flight to Daytona and once he landed there was a caravan of police cars waiting to escort him to the track. "It's kind of a weird thing when you land in an airplane and you see cop lights that are out there for you," he said.

Sam Hornish Jr. gets a quick pre-race talking to with
fellow Penske driver Brad Kesolowski
Photo courtesy of NASCAR.com

He arrived at 7:30 pm just as the invocation had begun. I swear Robin Meade (yes THAT Robin Meade from the CNN Morning Express show! Who knew she could sing??), really milked that national anthem to give them time to get Hornish into the car! He managed a 33^rd place finish for Penske.

It should be noted that NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations Steve O’Donnell, who announced the suspension but did not field any questions and did not elaborate on what drug was found in Allmendinger’s system. It could be something as simple as an over the counter medication or something as severe as a narcotic. We will have to wait and see what unfolds.

Next week we head over to Louden in New Hampshire for the LENOX Industrial Tools 301.

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