NASCAR is investigating an incident where Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike was arrested over the weekend on charges for possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia while at Kings Island, an amusement park in Ohio.
Fike, 24, is being held without bond at the Warren County Jail in Lebanon, Ohio, and will be arraigned at 9 a.m. ET Tuesday. Meanwhile, NASCAR is making arrangements to have the driver drug tested by an independent laboratory.
"We are reviewing the case and we've seen the media reports and are reaching out to both the team and authorities," said Ramsey Poston, managing director of corporate communications for NASCAR. "We will make a decision once we know a little bit more about the facts."
Fike faces two drug charges: felony drug possession and misdemeanor possession of drug abuse instruments, according to authorities at the Warren County Jail.
Driver of the No. 1 Toyota, Fike is under contract with Red Horse Racing and is ranked eighth in the point standings.
David Green will replace Fike in the truck in the upcoming Built Ford Tough 225 Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway in light of the incident.
"We are still investigating to get first-hand information on what happened with Aaron," said general manager and team owner, Tom DeLoach. "We don't expect to have any definitive answers on the events leading up to Aaron's arrest until later this week."
Fike and his fiancee, Cassandra Davidson, were taken into police custody Saturday night after Kings Island park authorities reported suspicious activity coming from Fike's SUV.
Police said that as the Kings Island park security officer approached Fike's vehicle tried to drive away and struck the officer with his side mirror.
Further investigation by Mason City Police Department led to a full search of Fike's SUV, where officers allegedly found heroin inside as well as syringes and spoons with residue.
Poston said NASCAR's drug policy is one of zero tolerance and should be taken seriously.
If a driver fails a drug test, be it alcohol or chemical related, he or she is suspended indefinitely and pulled from the track. If a driver refuses NASCAR's drug test, he or she is suspended indefinitely as well.
Officials take action based on what they consider to be reasonable suspicion, and Poston said the substance-abuse policy is broad and all encompassing.
Also, NASCAR does not have players' unions fighting to block substance-abuse testing, as is the case in other major sports.
"We have much broader authority than other professional leagues," he said.
"We can take action based on physical signs of droopy eyes, slurred speech, etc. And there aren't many secrets inside the garage area so in that respect we have some help there as well."
That said, the sanctioning body will work to rehabilitate drivers found with substance-abuse problems or addiction.
Those drivers who fail the substance-abuse policy will be offered a treatment plan and if the program is completed in the eyes of NASCAR, the driver is considered for reinstatement.
Rehabilitation was offered to recently suspended Craftsman Truck Series driver Tyler Walker, who last month was suspended indefinitely for violating NASCAR's drug policy. However, Poston said he was unaware of any requests from Walker to be reinstated or placed on a treatment program.
While NASCAR is willing to help drivers and offer a second chance, they won't get a third; it's three strikes and you're out, Poston added.
Such is the case with former Busch and Truck series driver Shane Hmiel, who was suspended from competition permanently in February 2006 by NASCAR after failing three substance-abuse tests.
Other drivers to be parked for abusing the policy include Brian Rose, Sammy Potashnick and Kevin Grubb. Rose and Potashnick never returned to the track. Grubb did return, but was suspended indefinitely on Sept. 12, 2006, after refusing to take a drug test. It was his second suspension.
Instituted in 1988, NASCAR feels its drug policy is effective.
"Everyone understands what it is." Poston said. "The action is swift and impacting."
http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/head...ges/index.html
It would be nice if all sports leagues had this power!