NASCAR driver suspended after positive drug test

AJ Allmendinger was in his first year with Penske Racing when he was suspended. (Getty Images)
AJ Allmendinger is in his first year with Penske Racing. (Getty Images)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger was suspended by NASCAR Saturday less than 90 minutes before the start of the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

NASCAR vice president for racing operations Steve O’Donnell made the announcement in the Daytona media center just after 6:00 p.m.

Allmendinger, who races the No. 22 Dodge for Penske Racing failed the random test that was given during the race weekend at Kentucky Speedway.

Allmendinger has 72 hours to ask for his ‘B’ sample to be tested. MORE>>>

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. 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.