I know I might not do the best job at showing it, but I absolutely hate using this column to talk about issues other than dirt track racing. However, the ordeal surrounding much of the NASCAR news today has me a little confused. We all understand what happened, AJ Allmendinger failed a drug test, and was informed literally hours before the Coke-Zero 400 at Daytona that he was benched. Sam Hornish Jr. had to be flown in and took over the driving duties for Allmendinger.

When I first heard the news I assumed like many others, that he failed a test at Daytona, but that wasn’t the case.

I hear a lot of sport reporters explaining NASCAR’s drug policy, suspecting what he tested positive for, or even debating who should be driving the #22 during this period. Understand, this isn’t a rant about whether or not Allmendinger actually passed the test, I don’t doubt the results. False positives do happen, but more often than not the results are pretty damn accurate. Keep in mind, NASCAR’s drug testing policy was ranked 5th out of 22 professional sport leagues by the Wall Street Journal.

The only thing that raises my eyebrow is the timeline that is extremely questionable.

Timeline

June 29th – NASCAR randomly selects Allmendinger for a drug test. Allmendinger provided a urine sample on site at Kentucky Motor Speedway that was divided in to an A and B sample.

June 30th – Allmendinger started 16th and finished 9th at Kentucky’s Sprint Cup event.

July 5th – Allmendinger participates in two Daytona Sprint Cup practices.

July 6th – Allmendinger qualifies 6th for Coke-Zero 400.

July 7th – A few hours before the Coke-Zero 400 AJ is informed and parked before the B sample was tested.

Clarification On The Rules

The fact that NASCAR stepped in before Allmendinger’s B sample was tested does not bode well for AJ’s defense. NASCAR’s drug testing policy states, “Upon notification of the original A specimen positive test, NASCAR, in its sole discretion, may temporarily suspend a NASCAR Member’s license before the B sample test is completed based on … concerns regarding the safety of the NASCAR members and others at the event (or) concerns regarding the fairness of a competition (or) exigent circumstances.”

The fact that NASCAR suspended Allmendinger before the B sample was tested, points to the fact that he may of in fact failed for something quite serious. We all remember Jeremy Mayfield’s famous failed drug test drama. NASCAR performed the A and B sample test before parking Mayfield.

And this is where things get a little hazy to me…

What’s Are We Trying To Accomplish?

NASCAR contracts out their drug testing policy to a company called Aegis Sciences Corporation. Once NASCAR informs the driver that their name has been selected for a random test, then that driver has 1 hour to provide a urine sample to the Aegis staff that is on hand at the event where the sample is divided into an A and B sample.

Reports are saying that 6 hours before the Daytona race, Penske Racing and Allmendinger were informed of the failed test. If we look at the timeline you can see that after the drug test sample was provided, Allmendinger competed in one Sprint Cup race, ran two practices, and qualified for the Sprint Cup race at Daytona. That’s four times he was on track after providing a positive test.

If the goal of the drug testing policy is to provide not only an equal, but safe playing field among drivers, then it appears that NASCAR is failing at this goal. I understand that drug testing takes time, but Aegis had staff at Kentucky and yet it still took 8 full days before Allmendinger and the team were told that his A sample failed. If you factor in the holiday of July 4th that Aegis more than likely gave their employes off, than that still is 7 days before the test results were supplied back to NASCAR.

I wouldn’t say that the fault lies with NASCAR, but when you are in the national eye like they are, having a driver compete four times after supplying a positive drug test should not be acceptable.

Conclusion

Reports are now saying that Allmendinger failed the B sample test which was handled July 24th, almost a month after the specimen was originally collected. The rulebook states that the driver has 72 hours to ask for the B sample to be tested, Allmendinger complied with this and sometime between July 7th and 10th requested the sample test. But they couldn’t test the sample for over two weeks? WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

I am in no way a conspiracy theorist, far from it. But all I’m trying to point out is something at least appears to be off with the way everything was handled with Allmendinger. Did NASCAR knowingly choose to postpone giving the results to Allmendinger and the media to amp up the drama leading to the race? Are they dragging out the B sample test to keep this story in the media?

Honestly, I don’t think they would. That is a man’s name, legacy, and life they would be playing around with. I have a lot of respect for NASCAR and like I’ve stated before, I don’t think the delay with everything is NASCAR’s fault. But in my opinion, they need to take a close look at the efficiency of their drug testing policy and procedures, because something appears not right.