Allmendinger Suspended After Failed Drug Test

AJ Allmendinger has been suspended from Nascar

The 2012 season was going to be the best of AJ Allmendiger's young Nascar career. He had landed the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge at Penske Racing and was now teammates with Bread Keselowski, who finished fifth in points in 2011. The 30-year-old California native beamed with optimism all throughout Speedweeks at Daytona in February.

But when the Cup Series returned to Daytona this past weekend, Allmendinger's high hopes and lofty ambitions had gone down in flames. Hard.

About 90-minutes prior to the start of the Coke Zero 400, Nascar's Steve O'Donnell announced that Allmendiger had failed a random drug test the sanctioning body had administered to the driver following the previous week's event at Kentucky Speedway. He was escorted from the speedway and placed on suspension, meaning that Penske Racing had to fly Sam Hornish, Jr down from Charlotte to wheel the No. 22. He arrived on pit road just as the national anthem started.

Sam Hornish, Jr barely made it to the grid at Daytona

Hornish will also be behind the wheel of the Shell-Pennzoil car at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend.

Allmendinger's suspension is only "temporary" because he can choose to have a "B" sample tested. But, if that test proves positive as well or if he chooses not to have it tested at all, the suspension becomes "indefinite." That means he can only come back when Nascar says it's ok to do so.

Meanwhile, Allmendinger has yet to make a statement regarding what happened, expressing his side of the story or pleading his innocence. Penske Racing has released a statement saying they had been notified about the situation and that they fully support Nascar's drug testing policy.

Team owner Roger Penske, who was out of the country when the news broke, called the failed test "a disappointment," but that the team will wait for the "B" sample to be tested before making any decisions about Allmendinger's future. "I don't think it's fair to him," Penske said. "I think as you look at sports, things happen like this. It's unfortunate, but I don't really want to make a statement pro or con right now. I'm counting on another test being proper for him within 72 hours and at that point we'll make a decision."

How much longer will Allmendinger's name be above the
door of the No. 22 car?

Penske said the team was informed about the failed test at around 4 p.m. Saturday, less than four hours before the start of the race. Should Allmendinger choose to have his "B" sample tested, it could take up to five days to confirm the results of the "A" sample.

Allmendinger's publicist has said that the news "shocked" her client, while also describing him as a "health conscious" individual. She would not comment on whether or not the driver would have the "B" sample tested.

Hopefully Allmedinger opts for this second test, if only to try and prove his innocence. It would also give his fans some confidence after three days of silence from their driver and not doing so might be looked upon as an admission of guilt.

Midway through the season that was supposed to be a big breakthrough for Anthony James Allmendinger, it may instead prove to be nothing more than a big washout.


UPDATE: Nascar has confirmed that AJ Allmendinger has requested that the "B" sample be tested. (7/9 10:30 p.m.)