Driver Austin Wayne Self has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy, NASCAR announced Monday.
Self was found to have violated Section 12.1 (actions detrimental to stock-car racing) and Section 19 (NASCAR’s substance abuse policy) of the 2019 NASCAR Rule Book, according to the NASCAR penalty report.
Self has made 66 career starts in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series from 2016-19, including three this season. He has one career top-five finish and five career top 10s, including a ninth-place run in this year’s season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway driving the AM Racing No. 22 Chevrolet.
Self, 23, must complete the NASCAR Road to Recovery program before reinstatement.
AM Racing — the Gander Trucks organization owned by Self’s father, Tim — issued a statement after Monday’s penalty news.
“AM Racing respects NASCAR’s decision and will follow their direction,” AM Racing’s statement read. “We expect Austin Wayne Self to return to the seat as quickly as possible. AM Racing will continue to operate as normal with a determination of a driver lineup set in the coming weeks. We expect to emerge from this challenge as a stronger team.”
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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