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Sprint Cup
CUP: NASCAR Reinstates Allmendinger
AJ Allmendinger has not competed in a NASCAR event since mid-summer...
AJ Allmendinger has completed Step One. Step Two might be more difficult.
NASCAR announced Tuesday that it has reinstated Allmendinger to competition status after his successful completion of a recovery program following his summer suspension for failing a drug test.
Allmendinger completed the NASCAR recovery program in eight weeks. He was suspended temporarily July 7 and then placed on indefinite suspension July 24. Two urine samples proved positive for a drug that violates NASCAR’s substance-abuse policy. Allmendinger identified the drug as prescription Adderall and said he took it after being given a pill by an acquaintance.
Although Allmendinger has been cleared to return to NASCAR competition, he currently has no seat to claim. He was driving for Penske Racing’s Sprint Cup operation – in its No. 22 cars – when he was suspended. Sam Hornish Jr. replaced Allmendinger in the Penske cars, and Joey Logano has been named as the driver for that part of the Penske operation next season.
Penske supported Allmendinger during the suspension and invited him to attend last week’s IndyCar race as a spectator. It is not known, however, if Penske will consider providing a ride for Allmendinger in either his NASCAR or open-wheel operations.
“For me, it’s just (I’m) relieved to have it finally over and to be reinstated to NASCAR,” Allmendinger said in an exclusive interview on SPEED’s NASCAR Race Hub Tuesday. “And this was the first step that had to happen before I could even focus on the next steps, which (are) figuring out what my options are, what I really want to do racing-wise and what I would have the opportunity to do.”
The suspension has not been easy for Allmendinger.
“It’s been a tough process,” Allmendinger said. “A lot of tough days, and especially weekends, watching the NASCAR races and struggling through it, but it’s also a process I’ve learned a lot from and as a person, I will be so much better for it.”
As for his future options, those remain to be seen.
“I think, for me, it’s just leaving all options open and seeing what’s out there, and figuring out who wants me,” Allmendinger said. “And I know whatever team, whatever series I’m going to be in, I have to go out there and earn the respect of the team owner, the sponsors, the drivers, the fans. … it’s taking that step by step.”
Allmendinger had been racing under a one-year contract with Penske.
Allmendinger thanked Penske, who invited him out to Auto Club Speedway last weekend to be a guest of Penske Racing at the IndyCar finale.
“He’s been absolutely amazing in this process,” Allmendinger said of Penske. “He’s such a close friend and I feel like we’re even closer now than when I drove for him. That’s meant the world to me.”
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
NASCAR announced Tuesday that it has reinstated Allmendinger to competition status after his successful completion of a recovery program following his summer suspension for failing a drug test.
Allmendinger completed the NASCAR recovery program in eight weeks. He was suspended temporarily July 7 and then placed on indefinite suspension July 24. Two urine samples proved positive for a drug that violates NASCAR’s substance-abuse policy. Allmendinger identified the drug as prescription Adderall and said he took it after being given a pill by an acquaintance.
Although Allmendinger has been cleared to return to NASCAR competition, he currently has no seat to claim. He was driving for Penske Racing’s Sprint Cup operation – in its No. 22 cars – when he was suspended. Sam Hornish Jr. replaced Allmendinger in the Penske cars, and Joey Logano has been named as the driver for that part of the Penske operation next season.
Penske supported Allmendinger during the suspension and invited him to attend last week’s IndyCar race as a spectator. It is not known, however, if Penske will consider providing a ride for Allmendinger in either his NASCAR or open-wheel operations.
“For me, it’s just (I’m) relieved to have it finally over and to be reinstated to NASCAR,” Allmendinger said in an exclusive interview on SPEED’s NASCAR Race Hub Tuesday. “And this was the first step that had to happen before I could even focus on the next steps, which (are) figuring out what my options are, what I really want to do racing-wise and what I would have the opportunity to do.”
The suspension has not been easy for Allmendinger.
“It’s been a tough process,” Allmendinger said. “A lot of tough days, and especially weekends, watching the NASCAR races and struggling through it, but it’s also a process I’ve learned a lot from and as a person, I will be so much better for it.”
As for his future options, those remain to be seen.
“I think, for me, it’s just leaving all options open and seeing what’s out there, and figuring out who wants me,” Allmendinger said. “And I know whatever team, whatever series I’m going to be in, I have to go out there and earn the respect of the team owner, the sponsors, the drivers, the fans. … it’s taking that step by step.”
Allmendinger had been racing under a one-year contract with Penske.
Allmendinger thanked Penske, who invited him out to Auto Club Speedway last weekend to be a guest of Penske Racing at the IndyCar finale.
“He’s been absolutely amazing in this process,” Allmendinger said of Penske. “He’s such a close friend and I feel like we’re even closer now than when I drove for him. That’s meant the world to me.”
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
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