Aaron Fike’s startling admission that he used heroin on the same day he raced in NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series races in 2007 is by no means an indication that NASCAR has a widespread drug problem.
NASCAR, which arguably has run the cleanest ship among major sports leagues when it comes to substance abuse, has seen its policy lead to the apprehension, suspension and even banishment of several drivers over the years. But Fike beating the system without drawing attention to himself is enough cause for NASCAR to scrutinize and potentially revamp that same system.
One week after earning a career-best fifth-place finish in a truck race at Memphis, Fike and fiancée Cassandra Davidson were caught in the parking lot of a Cincinnati-area amusement park with a 100-count box of needles, bloody napkins and black tar heroin.
But it wasn’t NASCAR that caught them. Rather, it was a Mason, Ohio, police officer who observed the drug paraphernalia in their SUV and then arrested them after a short chase.
Had Fike not been caught, one can only wonder if – or more likely, when – Fike’s habit would lead to tragedy on the race track.Yahoo Sports
It was less than a year ago that several Cup drivers spoke out in favor of a more vigorous testing policy.
“Shame on NASCAR for not policing our garage better than they police it right now,” Kevin Harvick said. “I think we’re all professional athletes and should be treated like professional athletes in other professional sports—and shame on them for not doing that.”
In support of regular testing, Jeff Burton said: “There’s too much at stake for this sport, too much at stake for the drivers, the racetrack, the crew members on pit road.”
Those statements came last July after Fike was arrested for possession of heroin.
All NASCAR drivers sign a form at the beginning of the season that states they can be randomly drug tested at any time. The problem is it rarely happens.
NASCAR only tests someone if they feel that driver may have a problem. The irony of this is how NASCAR does a far better job of testing rule violations on the cars than it does the drivers. ESPN
