Allen Johnson DQd for Alcohol

[cantdrive55]

I'd say exclusion from this weekend's race is punishment enough, and to the best of my knowledge AJ hasn't run afoul of NHRA's drug/alcohol test before. Also, I think speculating on AJ's drinking habits is very premature and could prove to be very wrong. Given that I don't know AJ, nor was I at dinner with him Friday night, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt this time. A first time offense doesn't necessarily mean he's got a drinking problem. That being said, it was an extremely poor decision, especially when he knew about the test and it's random selection. AJ's gonna have to mind his p's and q's, got a feeling he's gonna be tested a lot more often.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Am I the only one that thinks the punishment is a bit much...?
I understand the zero tol rule, he tested positive Sat. AM, so don't let him drive Sat.

But to ban him from a race the next day....?
And take bonus qual. points away he earned on Fri...?

 

[clwill]

The rulebook is really quite clear:

There shall be a “zero tolerance” policy with regard to alcohol. Any driver or official discovered to have a measurable blood alcohol content during racetrack activities shall be deemed under the influence of alcohol and shall be immediately barred from any further involvement or participation in the event. Further, he or she will be subject to disciplinary action as provided for in this Substance Abuse Policy.

Don't think there was any wiggle room.

 

[Professional Fan]

I like Allen as both a driver and a person. I would hate to see him lose his chance for the championship because of this. But how would NHRA justify letting him off the hook with a one race suspension when Matt Guidera got suspended for a year for not taking the test. (Matt actually did show up but couldn't produce a large enough sample.) Would be a bad message to send-if you're a small guy without a major sponsor they throw the book at you. If you're a contender for a pro championship and have a major sponsor different rules apply. (Please, don't turn this into a different rules apply to John Force thread.) I do think one year is too severe for a first offense, especially not involving drugs, but I don't know how they justify a one race suspension based on the precedent they have set.

One way or the other, this should certainly send a message to everyone else who gets tested by NHRA to not have a few beers with dinner on a race weekend.

 

[S&M]

My thoughts exactly!!!
I have more respect for him now because of his handling of this than I did before!



Rich Venza:
"NHRA drag racing has become way too PC!
Just my 2 cents."

Sorry Rich but it's not being PC: it's a safety issue!!! I don't want any racer driving with ANY alcohol in their system!!!
Us truck drivers also have a zero tolerance too. My legal limit is .00000!!!
Yea it may suck but that's life!!!

The system NHRA is now using is not for safety. It is for PC reasons to make MAD think that NHRA cares about drinking & driving. If NHRA cared about safety, they would not allow alcohol drinks any kind on site & they would test every drive before every round in the staging lanes. Picking a random driver now and then does nothing to make racing safer.

 

[CrewGuy]

The system NHRA is now using is not for safety. It is for PC reasons to make MAD think that NHRA cares about drinking & driving. If NHRA cared about safety, they would not allow alcohol drinks any kind on site & they would test every drive before every round in the staging lanes. Picking a random driver now and then does nothing to make racing safer.

Good points! Does the NHRA test sportsmen racers. They drive the cars to the staging lanes.

 

[Mad Mark]

The last time I got random tested (when I had a CDL), they tested the machine first by using the ambient air in the room, it read out 0.00, then I did the first test it read out 0.00, then I had to do a second one it read out 0.00, then they tested the machine with the ambient air in the room it read out 0.00. So it was good, I took the test at 8AM, they had a log sheet in the room so I took a glance at it, one guy at 7:15AM had a BAC of 1.6 .

I think you meant .16.

 

[n/a]

Crew members are next.

Anyone recall the BAC in the NJSP report from Scott Kalittas accident? I do. I guarantee it had nothing to do with accident.

 

[CrewGuy]

Average Drinker's Elimination is 0.015% per hour. I wonder how much he had to drink 10 hours prior?

 

[Tony]

Allen may well have had enough to drink at dinner the night before to have had a legitimate .027 BAC in the morning, and he might not have. A blood test won't be thrown off by a Certs. When the stakes are this high, the tests should be the most accurate available.

I disagree Bob. When the stakes are this high DON'T DRINK-PERIOD!Use some self-control. I don't think it's asking too much for a participant to forgo alcohol consumption for a few days while they are involved in a race. AJ is a successful racer and business owner, and he should have known better.

 

[turbo ken]

I think you meant .16.

You're right it was .16
but still at 7:15 in the morning (he was a truck driver too ).

If you gargle with a mouth wash like Listerine it will show up on a Breathalyzer test.


On another note on the qualifying show they said that AJ's punishment is TBD.

 

[JB3]

Good points! Does the NHRA test sportsmen racers. They drive the cars to the staging lanes.

Alan ... I posted this earlier ... Every racer (Pro or Sportsman) or person being paid by the NHRA that given weekend is at risk for testing. Including the part time help. (Full time NHRA staff, Announcers, Safari, Tech, Lanes, etc.). I do not know how many names are drawn per weekend but it is completely random by computer.

 

[kegs]

I was told that a member of the staff, not sure at what capacity, also failed.

 

[Crew Chief Pro]

Good points! Does the NHRA test sportsmen racers. They drive the cars to the staging lanes.

Yes, more sportsman are tested than pro racers. I know, I was one of them. See my post earlier.

 

[Clark W.]

.........................and in the next Winner's Circle celebration they will be pouring adult beverages all over each other after ESPN comes back from a commercial break that was purchased by Budweiser. We live in interesting times.................NHRA = Double Standard. All this PC is wrecking our country!

 

[CrewGuy]

.........................and in the next Winner's Circle celebration they will be pouring adult beverages all over each other after ESPN comes back from a commercial break that was purchased by Budweiser. We live in interesting times.................NHRA = Double Standard. All this PC is wrecking our country!

Double standard my ass! They are seen celebrating AFTER THE RACE!

 

[JB3]

.........................and in the next Winner's Circle celebration they will be pouring adult beverages all over each other after ESPN comes back from a commercial break that was purchased by Budweiser. We live in interesting times.................NHRA = Double Standard. All this PC is wrecking our country!

WHAT ?? What double standard? The rules apply to all. Post race has nothing to do with anything.
C'mon ... this goes on at almost every workplace in America. What is PC about that? You can't drink or do drugs on company time !! An NHRA event is basically the workplace. Abide by the rules or don't show up.

 

[Toejam]

Joe,

I have lots of friends who drive race cars and I can assure you that none of them have a beer or anything else until it is clear they are done racing for the day.

Dave I'm sure your Right in a Vast majority of cases!! However there was one FC driver around 5-6 years ago, that would take Shots with his crew before making a Pass! I'm betting a lot of people here know who I'm talking about!

 

[Super Mod]

What if the random testing was not so random.....let the conspiracy begin
I'm just sayin' ......test everyone or don't test at all

 

[Jenn]

I like Allen as both a driver and a person. I would hate to see him lose his chance for the championship because of this. But how would NHRA justify letting him off the hook with a one race suspension when Matt Guidera got suspended for a year for not taking the test. (Matt actually did show up but couldn't produce a large enough sample.) Would be a bad message to send-if you're a small guy without a major sponsor they throw the book at you. If you're a contender for a pro championship and have a major sponsor different rules apply. (Please, don't turn this into a different rules apply to John Force thread.) I do think one year is too severe for a first offense, especially not involving drugs, but I don't know how they justify a one race suspension based on the precedent they have set.

One way or the other, this should certainly send a message to everyone else who gets tested by NHRA to not have a few beers with dinner on a race weekend.

My guess is that it's very similar to a court of law. Man up, admit your guilt and you may get X amount of time. Deny it, go through the trial, get XX amount of time.

Most children (in time) learn the difference between saying "Yes Mommy, I did get into the paint and paint the cabinets red" and get 15 minutes of time out rather than staying in the corner for 4 hours with red hands while screaming "I didn't do it".