Allmendinger ‘shell-shocked’

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – AJ Allmendinger is “shell-shocked” by his failed drug test and his business manager said Monday that the suspended NASCAR driver is working hard to determine what went wrong.

Allmendinger was suspended by NASCAR just before Saturday night’s race at Daytona for failing a random June 29 drug test. He has until midday today to ask for his “B” sample to be tested.

“He was a little dumbfounded and shell-shocked Saturday night, and yesterday, it just seemed a little surreal,” business manager Tara Ragan told the Associated Press. “It’s just so far from AJ’s character, and he’s trying to come to terms with what has just happened and figure out how this could have happened and respect NASCAR’s process.”

Penske Racing said it is working with NASCAR to “follow its process and procedures,” but the team will use Sam Hornish Jr. this weekend at New Hampshire in Allmendinger’s No. 22 Dodge. Ragan said Allmendinger is working with Penske Racing to help the organization “get to the bottom of this.”

NASCAR and Penske officials have not said what Allmendinger tested positive for, and Allmendinger has made no statement since his suspension.

Allmendinger is the second Sprint Cup Series driver suspended since NASCAR implemented its drug policy in 2009. Jeremy Mayfield chose not to participate in NASCAR’s rehabilitation program and instead contested his 2009 suspension in court. He eventually lost his fight after a lengthy battle, and has not raced since.

Allmendinger is the fourth driver spanning NASCAR’s three national series to be suspended for a failed drug test; none of the previous three has been reinstated.

He was clearly caught off guard by the test results; Allmendinger’s Twitter feed showed he was appearing on behalf of sponsor Shell/Pennzoil less than two hours before the suspension was announced.

According to the timeline provided by NASCAR, its medical review officer first alerted Allmendinger of his positive test about six hours before the suspension was announced. Allmendinger then had the opportunity to explain the result, and the medical officer had the responsibility to investigate any offered explanation.

Under NASCAR’s procedures, it’s assumed Allmendinger was unable to provide a plausible reason for the failed drug test because the second step – alerting NASCAR to the positive result – was done at 2:30 p.m. The suspension was announced roughly 90 minutes before the race.

Hornish was the emergency substitute for Allmendinger on Saturday night. He was pulled off a television set in North Carolina, where he was an analyst on a live broadcast, and flew to Daytona International Speedway. Hornish arrived right before the start of the race. A cut tire contributed to his 33rd-place finish.