A.J. Allmendinger
Allmendinger Gets A Second Chance
On Tuesday, Nascar announced they have reinstated AJ Allmendinger after successful completion of the sanctioning body’s Substance Abuse Policy Road to Recovery program.
This marks the first driver to enter and complete the program since its inception. ‘Dinger failed a drug test on June 29 at Kentucky Speedway. He was put on temporary suspension July 7 when the “A” sample of his urine specimen tested positive. That suspension became indefinite on July 24, after AJ Allmendinger’s “B” Sample Tests Positive.
Allmendinger’s business manager, Tara Ragan, said was an unspecified stimulant, adding that the results “were within nanograms of accepted standards.”
On August 7th Allmendinger told Marty Smith in an exclusive interview, he tested Positive for a Prescription Drug, Adderall. AJ tells Smith: ” he had been out in Louisville, Ky., the Wednesday before the Quaker State 400 race at Kentucky Speedway and was tired. A friend, Allmendinger said, handed him a pill and stated it was a workout supplement that would give him energy. Allmendinger ingested the pill.” That pill turned out to be Adderall, according to Allmendinger.
“I want to thank everyone for their support through this entire process,” Allmendinger said in a statement. “I appreciate that NASCAR created the Road to Recovery program, and am grateful for the opportunity to return to competition. The Road to Recovery program was really helpful to me in getting my priorities reset away from the race track. And, honestly, that helped find my love of racing again and why I began racing in the first place. I’m looking forward to taking this experience and be better for it moving forward.”
After his reinstatement, Allmendinger was unlikely to get a ride in Nascar’s premier league. But in mid-October he would receive an unexpected call from Phoenix Racing who wanted him to drive their No. 51 car in place of Regan Smith, who was called to sub for the injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Jr. was suffering from a severe concussion and was voluntarily taking a break from driving his No. 88 Chevy.
Allmendinger doesn’t know what’s next, but if this sneak peek is any indication he maybe back before we know it. There are many fans who are happy about that.
For Parents with young Nascar fans, you may want to read my article about talking to your kids When Sports Idols Fall From Grace. Don’t think you can wait till they’re teenagers to talk to them about the effect of drugs and the impacts they have on one’s life. That talk starts when they begin school in pre-school and kindergarten; where they will be exposed to drug abuse and it’s effect on kids and families.
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