Crew Member Suspended by NASCAR

NASCAR's revised substance abuse policy has made its first victim in the Sprint Cup Series. Following a drug test conducted after the Daytona 500 race last Sunday, Paul Chodora, a licensed crew member in the Sprint Cup Series for Mayfield Motorsports' No. 41 team, tested positive for banned substances and was indefinitely suspended from the series.

According to the NASCAR official site, Chodora “was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 7-5 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2009 Sprint Cup Series rule book.”

The North-American series have worked on a new drug policy through the duration of last year and announced, last September, that the new system will become effective as of the season opener in Daytona.

The new policy is based on random testing both before the season and on racing weekends throughout the season. Designed by AEGIS Sciences Corporation, the drug-testing policy stipulates that a computer-generated list of 12 to 14 people – drivers, crew members or team officials – will be tested almost every weekend.

Team owner/driver Jeremy Mayfield revealed that his team will not challenge NASCAR's decision.

“Mayfield Motorsports respects the decision by NASCAR to indefinitely suspend Paul Chodora. We as an organization appreciate NASCAR's drug testing policies and policing efforts as it makes the sport stronger overall. If Paul doesn't comply with NASCAR's reinstatement process, then he will no longer be an employee of Mayfield Motorsports,” said Mayfield in a statement.