Aaron Fike seemingly had it all. He was leading the rookie of the year standings half way through the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. He seemed destined to move up through NASCAR's feeder series. Maybe all the way up to the bigs, Sprint Cup. He had a beautiful fiancee, Cassandra Davidson.
Yet, with this bright future laid out in front of him Fike, along with Davidson, was arrested July 7, 2007, and charged with heroin possesion. They were shooting up heroin in Fike's truck for six hours at Kings Island theme park. Fike later pled guilty to two misdemeanors, and recieved two years probation. He has also been to drug rehab.
Aaron Fike, and Cassandra Davidson after drug bust
Fike is back in the news this week. He tells 'ESPN the Magazine' that he shot up heroin on race days,including his last truck race before his arrest. He finished fifth that day in Memphis. Fifth on heroin! He goes on to say that he was addicted to painkillers for six years and to heroin for ten months.
Cassandra Davidson, and Aaron Fike before the drug bust.
Since Fike went public with his story of using drugs on race day several fans are saying that he should be permantly banned from auto racing. I don't have all the answers to this problem, but if we go around taking everyone's livelihood away that had completed rehab, we would have a lot of unemployed addicts on the streets with plenty of free time on their hands. Probably not the ideal situation for them.
Twenty years ago I worked with a heroin addict. He did his job, didn't bother anyone, and wasn't tardy or absent any more than the rest of us. While not rocket science, his job required skill and intelligence. He functioned fine as long as he was on heroin. He would be sick if he didn't have his fix. I've read that this is the addiction, not the 'high' from the heroin, but keeping the withdrawl sickness at bay.
Fike was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR less than a week after his arrest. Fellow Truck Series driver Tyler Walker was suspended last May after failing a drug test requested by NASCAR at Lowes Motor Speedway. He also is suspended indefinitely. Shane Hmiel is also under indefinite suspension after failing multiple tests. All three of these drivers are currently racing in various smaller series.
Shane Hmiel
Which brings us to NASCAR's drug testing policy. Walker and Hmiel were tested under NASCAR's reasonable su####ion clause. Which is the only way to get tested in NASCAR. There are no random tests. No required tests by NASCAR. Several star drivers are on record as saying they have never taken a drug test while in NASCAR. Among those drivers, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, and Kevin Harvick.
NASCAR is the only major sport that has no mandatory drug testing of any kind for it's stars. NASCAR is also the only major sport without collective bargaining or a player's union. There is certainly nothing wrong with that, but this also allows NASCAR to legally consider it's stars and teams as independent contractors. This gives NASCAR some wiggle room on the testing issue, as NASCAR can argue that, as independent contractors, the teams---not NASCAR--- are responsible for health and wellness issues.
I'm sure that NASCAR has a full field of lawyers telling them that this is the way to go. As Speed Beagle 20 has said, the head in the sand approach appears to be NASCAR's drug policy. NASCAR won't accept the legal responsibility that comes with conducting drug tests. The drivers are begging NASCAR to test them. They want to know that they're not trading paint with someone under the influence.
As NASCAR proved with the Dale Earnhardt episode, they are not proactive. They will wait until something bites them on the ####, or untill the drivers and fans will not tollerate something any longer. Believe me NASCAR will not institute a real drug policy until something drastic happens. Either legally, or, on the track.
Han, Hmiel is banned for life. He will never be back in NASCAR. Why did Fike come out with this info? I've heard that part of the 12 step program is going to the people you have hurt and apologizing to them. Okay. That is fine with me. But you go to ESPN to apologize? I don't think so. I know K. Harvick is extremely upset with this and rightfully so. I've heard many OTR truck drivers say that an independant source should do the testing. I think that is fair. No one in NASCAR or the team owners tests the drivers--an outside source does it and reports the findings. That way no one can say he/she is being tested unfairly. What say you?
There's got to be teeth in a drug testing program and that means it's not voluntary or random, it's mandatory. You refuse, you lose. You fail, then you rehab and get one more ping... Simple and everyone feels good about their neighbor.
Great Job. I won't go into names due to this driver has past away. Many have said the more this guy drank beer during the night of racing the better he was and the other driver knew it. Many , many wins. I know at alot of local race tracks this is the norm.
So like you said how your coworker did his job while under a drug, I would think it really would come down to the drivers wanting to know if the other driver is under a drug and they will have to be the ones to take a stand. I would want my crew putting on my lug-nuts to be tested.
cheers
volfan....thanks for reading. I couldn't keep up with Shane. He's relasped so many times I can't remember what number he's on.
Independent testing would be great, but NASCAR's lawyers won't OK anything that might cause them to be held liable. Due to the testing or punishments from failed tests.
Hanahan- Good post. I know what its like. Im still on parole becuase of drug charges. But if he is sincere and wants to quit. He can do it without the 12 step program. But it all starts within himself. Ive been clean for 4 years now without any program.
3fan....I know what it's like too. I used recreationaly for several years. Nothing as hard as Fike. I never went to a program either. I just decided to stop. Once I removed so-called friends and certain situations, it wasn't hard to quit. Good luck bro.
I don't have the answers for the drivers on drugs. It would seem to be a more critical issue being high in a 200MPH race rather than doing it on a recreational basis in your home.
Racing at local tracks for a couple years, it was common to see drivers drinking beer or hard liquor between rounds and it concerned me quite a bit. Never saw hard drugs though but I wouldn't know what to look for in the first place.
I doubt seriously if some drivers drive better drunk. They just cloud their exceptional driving ability they have when sober.
Great post hanahan! I would have to agree with Photo that using drugs while racing is a very critical issue compared to recreational use. Although I dont condone it personally.
I do however concede that anyone who admits his problem and has the strength to quit should be commended. Perhaps Fike's purpose was never to be a race driver, but a messanger to others as the result of bad choices made changed his future in racing.
A cup, a bathroom with no running water, no reason needed. You race, you pee. If there is a suspision for a test, it is probably already to late for that driver.
photo....15 years ago I was part of a race team at a half mile dirt track I would say of the racers I knew personally, 50% used some type of drugs, and 99% used alcohol---not while racing.
Racers are risk-takers. Some drugs trigger a chemical reaction in the brain like racing, gambling, or skydiving would. Thanks for your comments.
pop...Everyone agrees on that. NASCAR is dragging it's feet due to the legal ramifications, much like they did on some of the safety issues after Earnhardt's death.
Bruton Smith wanted to put up safer barriers. NASCAR said they needed more studying. By more study, they meant their lawyers had to check out NASCAR's liability if someone got hurt with a safer barrier. The lawyers are why change comes slowly to big business.
Joker....I would bet on it being more than a few. If drivers are by nature risk takers. It would seem that more of them, than the general population, would try drugs. And, if certain drugs boost your confidence to King Kong levels, it would seem that some drivers have raced under the influence.
Kasey Kahne said he knew something was wrong with Fike. Yet, Kahne said he had no idea his best friend, Tyler Walker, used. Walker stated that he's used drugs since age 12. Seems like the drivers see what they want to see.
husk....damn, he sure does. Has Seth EVER done anything funny on SNL? I prefer MAD TV---Bobby Lee rocks----if MAD could only get rid of that old #### that does the Stewart kid.
Hanahan
Here's a guy that's all but now pis*sed away his career. All of that for some smack ? As to what he'll doing in the future is anyone's guess at this juncture.
The site is down over yonder as they've created problems of their own making.
