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It's Time For A New Drug Policy

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By TONY FABRIZIO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 19, 2008

For a long time, the drug-abuse problems that tarnished the images of other professional sports rarely touched NASCAR.

Although stock car racing grew out of moonshine running and some of the sport's most colorful figures in the early years were legendary partiers, illegal drug use was almost always somebody else's headache.

That has changed as the median age of drivers has gotten lower. NASCAR's hierarchy, as it did with safety initiatives until Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s fatal crash in 2001, has reacted with the velocity of an iceberg.

Suspended driver Aaron Fike's recent admission to ESPN The Magazine that he competed in Craftsman Truck Series races while under the influence of heroin is proof that NASCAR's existing policy - drivers can be tested whenever there's "reasonable suspicion" - isn't adequate.

The magazine story set off a firestorm during last weekend's race at Phoenix, with several drivers pushing for a stronger drug-enforcement policy.

Kevin Harvick, a team owner and driver, was particularly vocal, saying he approached NASCAR last year about implementing random testing, and he thought his argument fell on "deaf ears."

"I'm disappointed ... we're in a situation where we have to react instead of being proactive," Harvick said. "... In the 10 years I've raced, I've never been drug tested. So, to me, that's not a proper professional sports drug policy."

NASCAR Defends Policy
NASCAR officials point out that some teams have their own random drug testing policies and that its penalties for drivers who are caught are severe.

CEO Brian France was quoted in NASCAR Scene saying his sport's drug policy is the most aggressive in sports, because "we can test anytime, any place. It's better than random testing, because we can do it on a more frequent basis."

Fike, 25, is a former USAC open-wheel racer who was competing in the truck series until July, when he was arrested with his girlfriend in the parking lot of an Ohio amusement park. Found on his truck were black-tar heroin, syringes and bloody napkins.

NASCAR suspended Fike indefinitely, and his team, Red Horse Racing, fired him. To race in NASCAR again, Fike must complete several steps in what is described as a tough reinstatement program.

In the magazine article, Fike gave his first interview since his arrest. He said his heroin use stemmed from an addition to painkillers, and the arrest probably saved his life. He admitted that when he finished fifth seven days earlier at Memphis Motorsports Park, he had used heroin earlier in the day.

A Dangerous Combination

Three other drivers from NASCAR's Nationwide and Craftsman Truck divisions have gotten into trouble for substance abuse in recent years.

Shane Hmiel, 27, the son of former Dale Earnhardt Inc. competition director Steve Hmiel, was permanently banned after failing three drug tests between 2002 and 2006. Kevin Grubb, 30, is suspended indefinitely after testing positive in 2004 and 2006, and Tyler Walker, 28, was suspended after failing a test after the Nationwide race at Charlotte in May.

Harvick said it angers him to know he was on the track when Fike and at least one other driver were under the influence of a mind-altering drug.

"That is not fair to the 95 percent of this garage, and that's the bad part about it is, 95 percent of this garage I can guarantee you is clean, but there's a five percent chance ..." he said.

Jeff Gordon said he doesn't think Fike's revelation calls for a "knee-jerk reaction," but random testing "probably does need to happen from time to time just to make sure." Tony Stewart said random testing should be mandatory and should be "non-stop" through the year.

There's one overriding reason why NASCAR needs a more proactive approach: Heroin or cocaine use and racing inches apart at 180 mph don't mix.

In other sports, a guy under the influence might miss a block or drop a pop fly. In auto racing, somebody could get killed.

Random testing seems like a no-brainer here.

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