Tara Ragan, vice president of Walldinger Racing, released the following statement, presented in full:
"In an effort to help our colleagues in the media report on this in a timely and accurate manner, we wanted to provide some additional details regarding AJ's sample 'A' test results. AJ tested positive for a stimulant. He has no idea why the first test was positive, and he has never knowingly taken any prohibited substance. AJ is collecting his medicines and supplements for testing to determine whether an over-the-counter product caused his positive test.
"AJ and all of us at Walldinger Racing respect NASCAR's testing program, and he has requested that his 'B' sample be tested as part of the process of getting to the bottom of this. We will have the opportunity to review all of the scientific data surrounding the test following the 'B' sample test, but our understanding is that AJ's test was slightly above the threshold. As of this morning, we have not been given notice of when the testing of the 'B' sample will take place. Thanks again for all of the support of our fans, team, and sponsors as we continue working through the process."
This shuts down several possibilities (hard narcotics, for instance) and opens up several others, most notably the possibility that Allmendinger may have unknowingly taken some sort of stimulant that triggered the positive result. Allmendinger recently signed a sponsorship with an energy shot compound called "Fuel in a Bottle," but there is no indication as yet that any specific substance contributed to the positive result.
USA Today notes that NASCAR's rule book defines stimulants as including "amphetamine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Eve (MDEA), MDA, PMA, Phentermine and other amphetamine derivatives and related compounds."
There has, as yet, been no scheduled testing of the B sample. If that sample was found to be in violation, Allmendinger would be suspended indefinitely and not even considered for reinstatement until he completed a treatment program.
Sam Hornish Jr. will be driving the 22 this weekend at Loudon.
