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Stewart, Johnson among those asking for drug tests
Stewart shared the sentiment of other NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers that random drug testing should be mandatory.
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"I'm all for it," Stewart said. "I would love it. I haven't been asked to take one yet and I think it should be mandatory drug testing all the time. I think non-stop through the year. Obviously, with this happening, as an organization we aren't doing a good job of seeing it before it happens.
"Aaron (Fike) coming out and saying that obviously is an indication we need to do a better job than what we are currently doing. I'm all for random drug testing from the time we go to Daytona until the time we finish the season at Homestead — I think it's a great idea."
Fellow two-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson said he couldn't believe Fike's behavior and considered the whole incident "absurd." Johnson said if there's any question of a driver's stability it should be reported to NASCAR without any exceptions.
"I don't know where we go from here but I am so happy that they figured out or found out what was going on and got him off the track," Johnson said. "That is absolutely unacceptable.
"I've not been tested by NASCAR. I'm confident that every driver in this garage area is willing and open to whatever NASCAR decides to do or whatever policies are put into place. I see no issues with that from any driver."
Kasey Kahne says he "wondered" about Fike in the Nationwide Series and has "no clue why he raced as long as he did." However, Kahne believes that the onus is on NASCAR to take a more proactive stance when it comes to testing drivers across the board.
"I think there is more that goes into it than just saying 'we're going to test you guys'," Kahne said. "I don't understand it totally because I've never been tested. I would be up for it (drug testing) at any time just so that I knew — and everybody else knows what's going on. As much money that's in this sport, and as lucky as we are to get to do what we do, we should be clean and everybody out there should be."
However, NASCAR has failed to take the first step in arbitrarily testing any of its superstars — including Stewart, Kahne and Johnson. NASCAR has always relied on suspicion before taking that first step.
"First of all, let me assure you that no issue or conversation that we have with a driver, owner or team member ever falls on deaf ears," said NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp. "Now, they might not always come out of the meeting with the answer they're looking for, but we listen.
"The responsibility here rests across the board — with the drivers and competitors, owners and teams and NASCAR. We test an individual when we have reasonable suspicion and a positive test results in severe consequences and is a career-changing moment for that person. NASCAR's policy is also supported by the various policies that the teams have in place that are required under the driver/owner agreements. No system is flawless, but we believe our zero tolerance policy that is in place has served the sport well."
Like Kahne, Kevin Harvick suspects that there are other drivers who have escaped under NASCAR's radar. Fike drove for Kevin Harvick, Inc., in the Nationwide Series in 2006. He crashed out after the first lap of the first race at Nashville Speedway and finished 42nd.
"I have been in a race with him and I know for a fact that he's not the only one," Harvick said. "There's another driver that is suspended that I can almost guarantee you was in a race car while he was under the influence and that pisses me off. 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 ...
"It's just like the safety thing back in 2001 — the reason that we reacted to it, we weren't proactive until that situation happened. There's no reason not to be proactive in the state of the world of sports, there's no reason not to be proactive in the drug situation and that to me is irresponsible more than it is anything. I'm sure I'll be blasted from somebody for saying what I feel but I don't want to be on the race track with people like that.
"Aaron drove a couple of races for me and there was no reason to think that they were suspicious, but there's certain people that maybe they experiment with a lot of things. I don't know about drugs to tell you the truth, but I know that I want to be next to the guy and I want to know he's clean. I don't want to have to get in a truck or get in a Nationwide car or get in a Cup car and think that somebody had been out the night before and not been clean.
"I'm frustrated with the fact that I have to answer questions about Aaron Fike. Everybody that has to do a media bullpen today will have to answer a question about Aaron Fike and it really, really ticks me off that we have to answer that because everyone should know that we are taking random drug tests, and every driver in this garage should take them, in any garage in NASCAR. This has always been perceived as a clean sport. Let's not let it be perceived as something that is not clean now because it is for the most part. But let's prove it."
Member Comments
I personally think that drug testing should be done. It should be approached just like applying for a job. If you pass, you work. After that you are picked at random at differebt times to make sure that you are not doing drugs. You never know when you will be tested and therefore, for the most part, you are not able to try and clean your system out. Nascar may be an entertainment for us but it is their job.
sybl24484/16/2008 11:38:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Hill Rod,<br /><br />I guess you think your funny. Guess you work as one of those jerks who interviews people and asks them "Well your kid just died in a accident How Do You Feel. You are not worth my time to argue with.
driver20084/16/2008 11:16:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Hill Rod,<br /><br />No I haven't. And you just don't get it! It's not a JOKE when someone you love is almost KILLED by it you A**HOLE!
driver20084/16/2008 6:53:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Bottom line is if you work for any major corporation in America today you have to take a drug test. And this should be no different. And as someone who had her best friend almost killed on her honeymoon by a drunk driver I take offense to you idiots making it sound lke a great fun idea to do drugs drink and drive. I don't care what you do off the street or track but don't get in a car you IDIOTS.
driver20084/15/2008 9:33:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Jeff Gordon is a BIG wine guy, but he wont drink any after Wed.
Benji21124/15/2008 8:56:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
nascar doesnt need drug testing there are no blacks to ruin the sports YET!!
farmertan174/15/2008 8:25:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I have a new title..<br /><br />Nascar Fans demand showing the strt of the race"<br /><br />drug test fox
Benji21124/14/2008 20:17:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
If the drivers are so in favor of mandatory urinalysis, and so certain that it is a safety issue, why not simply take some of their substantial incomes and purchase the services of a firm that performs such tests and publish the results. If, as they claim, this is a matter of conscience and safety, then there is no need to wait for the sanctioning body to act collectively.
buffaloyanks4/14/2008 13:51:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I think if I were to hire a driver as owner I would demand a drug test before I hire you. It should be up to the owners.
88super4/14/2008 8:08:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
If you want to have fun with your Pals, rent<br />a room in a holiday inn/with bar & live music, drink yourselves stupid, crawl back<br />to your room, barf a few times& start all over again( BUT PLEASE DON'T DRIVE)<br />even the whole next day, stay off the roads,<br />because you can't pass the cops blow test.<br />But after all that fun, you didn't hurt or kill<br />anyone becaused you listend to uncle KENNY..................
rainboys14/13/2008 23:05:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Any user on or near the track should never<br />be aloud back at all.............
rainboys14/13/2008 22:40:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
who cares how much it costs... you cant put a price on life.. any life...<br />random tests and if you fail a test your driving days are over in nascar, is the way it should be...<br /> this aint baseball or football.. this is a sport where the person is wearing a car and go upwards and over 200 mph with 42 other people wearing cars... THIS IS NO PLACE FOR DRUGS PEOPLE<br />fail a drug test just once and they should never be able to drive again....
lonewolf394/13/2008 20:34:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
The drivers are right that NASCAR should do random drug testing. You can probably guess that those asking are clean, they wouldn't ask for it other wise. If NASCAR won't do it owners should. There has been too much of waiting for something to happen before they mandate something, do it before something bad happens.
Kixkahn4/13/2008 9:39:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
everyone that gets paid to play any sport should be subjected to regular drug testing. not only is is a matter of saftey, its a matter of ethics. these people know that they are expected to be role models. part of this responability is to stay clean. if they cant do that hit them in the pocketbook then if they fail again, send them home. DRUGS ARE NOT PART OF THE SPORTS WORLD!!!!
vickygeorge4/12/2008 12:26:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
YES !! TEST FOR DRUGS !! It's difficult enough, even with all the safety features, to survive a horrendous accident on the track without having some "IDIOT" out there with you high on drugs. And when someone is "proven" to be taking drugs, "BAN" them for "life" from racing !
4/12/2008 6:31:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
striker4300, It does not matter who the driver is there are no exceptions. If Jr or any other driver out there is using drugs or alcohol on track property during race week then they don't have any place in this sport. Any one that would support a driver for this is no fan of racing. Jr does not make nascar, it was here before him and will be here when he is gone. NO driver is nor ever has been all that. <br /> One positive test and you're out until you pass weekly tests and then tested any time chosen. 2nd time - BANNED FOR LIFE no matter who.<br /> The cost being discussed here is ridiculous, we're talking multi-millionaire owners and nascar is in the billions. Why don't the drivers take a cup, put their name on it and their sample in it, set it on the inside wall at the next race and say "TEST".
bluovl4/11/2008 23:23:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
The penalty for driving while frieing balls as we used to put it should be worse than car of tomorrow penalties. 200 points and 200,000.00. 6 race suspension for the driver and weekly testing plus rehab. Lets ask the states where the races are being held at what they would like to see happen.
Chase_the_Dragon4/11/2008 21:35:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
The owners should foot the bill and the results should be sent immediately to NASCAR (So no "deals" or cover-ups can happen between the driver and the owners/spondsers of his car). The owners should be liable because they're the ones respondsible for hiring the driver.<br /><br />AND, if it's proven a driver was ever toasted, wasted, or sh it-faceded while out on the track (in practice, qualifying or racing), then the drivers and their team owners should sue the heck out of the allegedly fried, polluted, or torn-up driver for putting all others out there (on the track and pits and garage areas) in harm's way. And the owners should get whacked too with a fine or lawsuit for not minding their own stable.
Sabra4/11/2008 20:38:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
the cost was about 75.00 each time she went they have a person pull the hair in a open rm. with at least one other person watching the hair is put in a sealed bag and then tested and results come in the mail noway they can cheat.
no20best4/11/2008 19:38:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
If the cost is the issue, maybe one of those screening companies will do it for free if they can get some use out of being "The Official Drug Screening" company of NASCAR.
Boop23664/11/2008 19:28:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
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