22 In Trouble Again

  • Source:WWW.jayski.com
    Allmendinger suspended for failing drug test: UPDATES: NASCAR announced 90 minutes before the race that #22-A.J. Allmendinger has failed a random drug test and has been “temporarily” suspended. He was randomly selected and tested following the Kentucky race and his “A” sample tested positive. He has the right to request that NASCAR test his “B” sample. Should he refuse to have the “B” sample tested, or if that test is positive, the suspension will become indefinite. Sam Hornish will replace him in the #22 at Daytona.(7-7-2012)
    Official Announcement: Driver AJ Allmendinger has been temporarily suspended from NASCAR competition based upon notification of a positive “A” test NASCAR received from the Medical Review Officer as stated in Section 19-11B (6,7) of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy. Pursuant to the rule book, Allmendinger has the opportunity to request within the next 72 hours that his “B” sample be tested. NASCAR will follow its policies and procedures set forth in the rule book in dealing with this matter.(NASCAR)(7-7-2012)
    Penske Statement: “NASCAR notified Penske Racing this afternoon that AJ Allmendinger was administered a drug test earlier this week, and those results tested positive. NASCAR has a strict drug testing program that Penske Racing fully supports. Penske Racing will work with NASCAR through this process and its next steps. Sam Hornish will drive the No. 22 car in (Saturday’s) Coke Zero 400.”(Penske Racing)(7-7-2012)
    UPDATE: Roger Penske called A.J. Allmendinger’s failed drug test “a disappointment” but said the NASCAR team will wait for a second test to be performed this week. Penske said Sunday before the Honda Indy Toronto race that Allmendinger’s “B” sample would be tested Monday or Tuesday. “You know it’s a disappointment at this particular time, but we’re going to wait and see what the second test results are before we make any comment or decisions,” Penske said. “I don’t think it’s fair to him. I think as you look at sports, things happen like this,” he said. “It’s unfortunate, but I don’t really want to make a statement pro or con right now. I’m counting on another test being proper for him within 72 hours, and at that point we’ll make a decision.” Penske said his team, Penske Racing, was informed that Allmendinger’s “A” sample had tested positive about 4 p.m. Saturday, less than four hours before the Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Allmendinger has 72 hours from early Saturday afternoon for the “B” sample to be tested, meaning he has to make the request by early Tuesday afternoon. After the request is made, it could take up to five days to confirm the results of the “A” sample.(USA Today/Indianapolis Star)(7-8-2012)
    UPDATE 2: A.J. Allmendinger was silent Sunday, a day after NASCAR suspended him for failing a random drug test. Penske Racing, which gave Allmendinger the biggest break of his career this season, is withholding judgment until NASCAR’s system has been completed. Where that leaves the 30-year-old driver remains to be seen. There is no second test coming for Allmendinger, who was randomly summoned June 29 in Kentucky to provide a urine sample to NASCAR. Per NASCAR guidelines, the specimen was split in two for an “A” and a “B” samples. NASCAR announced 90 minutes before Saturday night’s race at Daytona that Allmendinger’s “A” sample had failed the test. NASCAR didn’t reveal what Allmendinger tested positive for, and Allmendinger hasn’t commented publicly since the announcement. According to Allmendinger’s Twitter feed, he was making appearances on behalf of sponsor Shell/Pennzoil less than two hours before the suspension was announced at 6 p.m. But NASCAR clarified the timelines Sunday, and said its medical review officer first alerted Allmendinger of his positive test approximately six hours earlier. NASCAR was informed by the MRO about 2:30 p.m., and met with Allmendinger and a senior Penske official shortly after. The team owner indicated Sunday that Hornish is available to drive Allmendinger’s car, but that the organization had yet to think beyond Daytona. “We haven’t made any (decisions). He was obviously our first choice for yesterday,” Penske said. “I was out of the country and came in last night and obviously got word on the way over what had happened. The big thing was to get Sam in the car so we could get in the race, which obviously was tight.(Associated Press)
    AND: If A.J. Allmendinger’s suspension by NASCAR becomes indefinite, Sam Hornish Jr. wants to continue his role as replacement. “If that’s the case, then I want to be back in the Cup Series,” Hornish told USA TODAY Sports in a phone interview Sunday. “I’m fully on board with it. I can’t think of any reason I wouldn’t want to drive that car. I’ll do whatever it takes to get back there.” Of getting promoted on a longer-term basis in the #22 Dodge, Hornish said, “Obviously, we have a contractual commitment to the Nationwide Series, and some of their races aren’t at the same site as Cup races, so that will be an issue.” Hornish declined to comment about Allmendinger’s situation, except to say he hadn’t spoken to the driver and was shocked by Saturday’s announcement.(USA Today)
    For more details on NASCAR’s drug testing policy, see Jayski’s Drug Policy page and in-depth articles at USA Today and Sporting News.(7-9-2012)
    UPDATE 3: Tara Ragan, Allmendinger’s business manager, said she couldn’t comment much on the situation but did say Allmendinger is a health conscious person and that they are working with the race team to go through the process. “It was shocking to us,” she said. “We’re all a little bit shell-shocked and getting our heads around what happened. We are working closely with the folks from Penske to work through the procedure with NASCAR.” Ragan said she could not comment on whether he will ask for the B sample to be tested.(Sporting News)(7-9-2012)

  • Hornish will remain in the #22 at New Hampshire: Penske Racing Statement: “Penske Racing is continuing to work with NASCAR to follow its process and procedures related to the positive drug test that AJ Allmendinger was notified of this past weekend. While this process continues, Sam Hornish Jr. will drive the #22 car in this week’s Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.”(Penske Racing)(7-9-2012)

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