Drug testing in raceing

[kidrock]

No need to read it a second time. It will make no more sense the second time than it did the first, thank you.

A lack of suspicion does not relieve a sanction or track ownership and management of liability in the event of an injury or fatality when the person who created the causation had drugs or alcohol in his system. That is simply common sense.

Anytime a person is in a position where their judgement, reaction time and general hand to eye coordination, or lack thereof, puts innocent folks well being and/or lives at risk then they should be drug tested either randomly or regularly. If for no other reason but to circumvent any possible drug related liability. It's easy, just don't be doin' dope if what you do could put innocent people at risk.

To rationalize acceptance of drug use and abuse in dirt late model racing because it's a "niche sport", out of the mainstream is very easy for a spectator with nothing at stake. It becomes a bit more of an issue when something more substantial than the cost of admission is at risk.

Excellant post CIRF

[racinc1]

The problem here is some of you are comparing apples to oranges. If you are tested for alcohol a blood test or breathalyzer tells you that alcohol is currently in your system. you could smoke a joint or whatever drug of choice on monday or tuesday and fail a drug test on saturday. Doesnt mean they are racing under the influence just means they use drugs. i personally dont use drugs but what these other fellas do during the week aint none of our business. this country would be alot better off if more people done alot more minding there own (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) business. I know alot of guys that drink like fish all week should they be barred from racing also.

[Barbecueboy]

If my driver was out on theach track drunk or stoned that is one thing, but as I said -- what they do away from the track is their own personal business. If you were to ban drivers for positive drug testing you are guaranteeing that at least one of the best drivers in DLM history wouldn't have been able to race. I doubt he ever ran a race jacked up, but in his free time...

Don't disagree with you at all on this one...........but it is a slippery slope , what with the public safety implications involved for owner operators possibly driving regulated equipment, insurances etc.

If they want to relax like responsible adults after hours , I could care less.........

[tsand]

Drug testing is very inexpensive. Urine samples don't have to be set to the lab. My doctor has me pee in a cup then he peels of a strip and it tells him if I got anything in my system and what it is. He told me it's very accurate.

[plunks7]

4 m should institute mandatory testing prior to becoming a member............

I would be out and I don't drink.

[Aces&Eights]

Why are you worried about this? I don't think they lack testing because they think everybody is clean, I think they don't want to know. I havent seen anything on the national tours to give me pause or concern at least not from drivers. Now some crewman working outta Mooresburg are suspect, but they're easy to catch riding mini bikes.

[CIRF]

Don't disagree with you at all on this one...........but it is a slippery slope , what with the public safety implications involved for owner operators possibly driving regulated equipment, insurances etc.

If they want to relax like responsible adults after hours , I could care less.........

I would also agree BBQB, especially with your last sentence. The problem is this, until they come up with a test of any kind that determines degree of impairment at any given point in time similar to BAC we are stuck with a clean or dirty screening determination that has a look back of possibly 30 to 35 days for THC. Have no idea what the look back is on all types of cocaine, opiates, prescription pain killers and muscle relaxers, etc.

I personally am required to have a valid CDL to operate some of the equipment that I own that is involved with the day to day operational obligations that go along with my chosen profession. Just having that CDL involves DOT and insurance implications that require that I periodically submit a valid drug test to a certified testing laboratory. If I test dirty the DOT and insurance company doesn't give a rats ass if I toked up an hour or a month prior to the sample being submitted.

Given that there are 2 states that have legalized recreational use of pot, and a bunch more that have legalized medicinal usage, a test is probably not too far in the future that will determine impairment at the time of testing. That will take all the guesswork out of degree of impairment for everyone.

[plunks7]

Most of you would be blown away as to how many and who. Its not even worth the conversation!!! I really don't think you could have a full field (24) of cars.

[Highside Hustler25]

The problem here is some of you are comparing apples to oranges. If you are tested for alcohol a blood test or breathalyzer tells you that alcohol is currently in your system. you could smoke a joint or whatever drug of choice on monday or tuesday and fail a drug test on saturday. Doesnt mean they are racing under the influence just means they use drugs. i personally dont use drugs but what these other fellas do during the week aint none of our business. this country would be alot better off if more people done alot more minding there own (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) business. I know alot of guys that drink like fish all week should they be barred from racing also.

Amen to this post. Especially the last sentence.

[MI Dirt Fan]

Most of you would be blown away as to how many and who. Its not even worth the conversation!!! I really don't think you could have a full field (24) of cars.

Same thing I said. I could go to a local track and point out probly 50 drivers. I never suspected any of them to be racing under an influence while on the track.

[NormP]

I guess the supreme Court has no right to make laws either.

It doesn't. That's the function of the legislative branch of government, not the judicial or executive branch.

Read the constitution, it's all in there.

[CIRF]

Very good article and quotes from Donnie Schatz, Darren Pittman and Kerry Madsen on the need for race car driver and crew member drug testing in the United States. I'm thinking the word of these 3 guys is worth a whole lot more than most anyone here.

http://www.pennlive.com/sports/index.../post_710.html

[bayou tuff]

Question: As a driver, how can you give a 110% if your under the influence of drugs or alcohol or both. You can't!! Both stay in your system for days, not hours. So, if I wanted to be one of the top drivers at any track, the drugs and alcohol would be at the bottom of the list of things I needed and wanted to do. Never gonna make it to the top with the aid of chemicals!!

[Barbecueboy]

Question: As a driver, how can you give a 110% if your under the influence of drugs or alcohol or both. You can't!! Both stay in your system for days, not hours. So, if I wanted to be one of the top drivers at any track, the drugs and alcohol would be at the bottom of the list of things I needed and wanted to do. Never gonna make it to the top with the aid of chemicals!!

Chemicals are for tire use only............oops

[W2Racing09]

No need to read it a second time. It will make no more sense the second time than it did the first, thank you.

A lack of suspicion does not relieve a sanction or track ownership and management of liability in the event of an injury or fatality when the person who created the causation had drugs or alcohol in his system. That is simply common sense.

Anytime a person is in a position where their judgement, reaction time and general hand to eye coordination, or lack thereof, puts innocent folks well being and/or lives at risk then they should be drug tested either randomly or regularly. If for no other reason but to circumvent any possible drug related liability. It's easy, just don't be doin' dope if what you do could put innocent people at risk.

To rationalize acceptance of drug use and abuse in dirt late model racing because it's a "niche sport", out of the mainstream is very easy for a spectator with nothing at stake. It becomes a bit more of an issue when something more substantial than the cost of admission is at risk.

It might be easy for a spectator with nothing at stake. I wouldn't know since I am the director of a Modified series and the thought has never once crossed my mind to do any drug testing, random or otherwise. In addition, I've never had a driver come to me to voice concern over a lack of drug testing either. I suspect most of the drivers in my series would either be indifferent, or against drug testing. If a driver appears intoxicated then we will take action, but otherwise as I have said what a driver does outside of the track is their business. That stance shouldn't be a shock to anyone considering I'm currently unaware of ANY Dirt racing tracks, series, or sanctions in the USA that are doing regular drug testing.