On Thursday AJ Allmendinger was charged with DUI in North Carolina. On Friday before practice Nascar made him take a Breathalyzer test before allowing him on the track. Prior to that, Nascar placed him on probation until December 31, RPM fined him $10,000 and placed him on probation as well. I understand the safety for the other drivers on the track and that Nascar has the right to test anyone for drugs and or alcohol given any suspicion. The media was all over the story of AJ Allmendinger with his DUI, probation, fines and being tested before practice. My question is why was this not done to Michael Waltrip with his 2 previous auto accidents?
October 21, 2009 in Moorsville, North Carolina, Michael Waltrip was involved in an accident that involved alcohol by the police report. He was making a U-turn around a median in a shopping center parking lot when he pulled out in front of a motorcycle which then struck his door. Waltrip was given a field sobriety test and passed a “walk and turn” test and a “one leg stand” test. Now he blew a .06 which is under the legal limit of .08 in North Carolina. He was given a citation for failing to yield the right of way.
I know he was not charged with a DUI since he was under the legal limit, however alcohol played a role in this accident and he was close to the legal limit. Why would Nascar not look into this incident, was it because the motorcyclist was uninjured in this case? What if he pulled out a second later and struck the bike head on and injured the rider? Would Nascar look into the accident then since it involved alcohol?
Back in 2007 he drove his vehicle off the road about a mile from his house. This was a single car accident, no other driver was involved, he simply drove the car off the road on his own. 911 was called, but when they arrived he was not at the scene and their was no answer on his front door. It was not until the next day that Waltirp was questioned regarding the single car accident and a field sobriety test would have done no good then. He was charged with reckless driver and failing to report an accident.
So how does a veteran Nascar driver of 20+ years run off the road on his own, avoid reporting it, not talking to police that night if alcohol had no role in it? I am not saying he was drunk, but just maybe alcohol did play a factor in him losing control and going off the road in the first place? We will never know what the real cause was and in both incident’s Nascar never placed Waltrip on probation.
I am in no way slamming Waltrip, I love the guy, he brings a lot to this sport and has for years. Maybe that is why Nascar overlooked these incidents and brushed them under the rug. What are your opinions on the matter? I would love to hear them so fire away.
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First I’m in argeement with your question and assessment. I’d like to ask about the other cases besides MW so as not to appear to pick on him, but how about Brian France a couple years ago, or Scott Wimmer, were they put on probation or given breathalyzer tests? Has ANY other driver, crewman, team owner or official ever been fined, put on probation or given a breathalyzer test?
Hell back in the day everyone seems to keep longing for if they gave breathalyzer test on race morning we probably would’ve had very small fields.
I really don’t mind if NASCAR wants to change the rules. This is a whole different time and it should not be tolerated, but change the rules so it applies to EVERYONE not just randomly making an example of someone they choose.
After all professional truck drivers lose their jobs if they if they get a DUI.
ALL drivers, team owners, NASCAR Officials etc. should be under the same rule. It is just as detrimental to the sport for Any Official but especially the CEO to be tagged with the alcohol moniker.
JMHO