Nascar and Drug Use In The Sport

Drugs In NASCAR Racing

When examining other major sports, it seems that NASCAR has been spared the worst of the serious drug use controversies. The most notable driver to be suspended due to a failed drug test was 13-time race winner Tim Richmond in 1988.

He became a part of Hendrick Motorsports and was well on the way to reaching superstar status, regularly appearing on the nascar schedule. In the aftermath, Richmond denied any drug use and it was later discovered that medications taken for cold symptoms were the cause of the positive testing.

Regardless, NASCAR officials no longer wanted Richmond in the sport. He was losing weight due to an illness, but unbeknownst to NASCAR, Richmond was dying of AIDS. From NASCAR's perspective, the weight loss and subsequent health problems must be the result of drugs; rumors in the Cup garage supported this assumption.

Richmond passed away in 1989 from AIDS-related complications.

Since Tim Richmond's unceremonious removal from the sport two decades ago, very few drivers have faced the wrath of NASCAR because of illegal substances. Shane Hmiel, Kevin Grubb, Tyler Walker, and Aaron Fike have been suspended in recent years. Grubb and Hmiel received lifetime bans after failing drug screenings following reinstatements from a previous suspension due to drugs.

Hmiel is the son of Steve Hmiel, a long-time mechanic who has worked for companies such as Roush Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc., and Chip Ganassi Racing in recent years. Hmiel was a racer with serious talent and many described him as one of the more talented rookie drivers of the last decade, but his substance abuse issues were the undoing of his promising driving career.

Grubb was another hot young racer back in the late 1990s. He enjoyed moderate success in the Busch, now Nationwide Series before failing a drug test in 2003. Grubb was reinstated in 2006, and suspended again in 2007. Grubb committed suicide in May 2009, drying of gunshot wound to the head.

The driver Tyler Walker, suspended in 2006 for failing his drug test, is also friends with Spring Cup Series driver, Kasey Kahne. Tyler has yet to file for NASCAR reinstatement.

For Aaron Fike, NASCAR suspension only came after a theme park arrest for heroin possession. While being interviewed by ESPN 'The Magazine,' he admitted to heroin use on the day of a race. Needless to say, the Fike interview was a shocking blow to NASCAR.

Until this latest racing season, NASCAR officials had reserved drug testing for those drivers under suspicion for illicit drug abuse. Now, it is official policy for NASCAR to issue random screenings for both drivers and crewmembers during the course of the season using Aegis Science Corp. Labs, and overseen by Dr. David Black.

Several crewmembers were recently suspended for testing positive for illegal drugs.
Jeremy Mayfield, another big name in NASCAR has been put on indefinite suspension following a positive testing for drugs back on May 9 at Darlington Raceway.

Mayfield's claim is that the positive result is due to a combination of Claritin-D, an allergy medication, and a legally prescribed medication. Nonetheless, NASCAR officials as well as Dr. Black have publically ruled against Mayfield in the matter.
Mayfield is standing by his innocence, and has hired a lawyer, Bill Diehl. There appears to be a legal suit in NASCAR's very near future.

Although NASCAR has not revealed the supposed substance, and Mayfield was totally ignorant of this illegal substance until recently. He and his lawyer received reports earlier in the week.

Essentially, it comes down as Mayfield's word against theirs, and the case will probably be resolved outside of court. This latest event has many turning a critical eye towards NASCAR. Still, there isn't necessarily any reason for concern for the nascar schedule.

The coverage of Mayfield's legal protests have sidetracked many notable events coming out of NASCAR that could mean some good press for a change. Much of this is about the fact that drug issues are still a rarer thing in NASCAR than they are in the NBA, NFL, MLB, or the NHL.

The random drug screening process is an improvement from the screening only on reasonable suspicion approach. The real flaw in this new approach is that NASCAR hasn't given out a list of substances it has banned to the public. NASCAR wants to be in control of what is and isn't acceptable. With information like the banned substance list in their hands, both crewmembers and drivers would know what is acceptable and what is not.

As with other professional sports, drug use is prohibited by NASCAR.

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Nascar racing and Our Open Business Model Part 2

This is our second post about notes we have taken about the concept of the Open Business Model and how it could be used in our Nascar Team Organization. This allows anyone that wants to contribute to the team to get involved and share their thoughts, feelings and knowledge with us.

We will start posting comments on many of the notes and explain in more detail how they can be used in our organization.

Thanks for your time

Doug

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A set of fundamental reasons for a company’s existence beyond just making money. Your purpose should be timeless and enduring—“a good purpose should serve to guide and inspire the organization for years, perhaps a century or more.”

We are in the freedom business like Southwest Airlines—to make this membership as available and as flexible for average Americans, as it has been for the well to do.

Disruptive Business Strategy

Southwest Freedoms
Freedom to learn and grow
Freedom to create financial security
Freedom to work hard and have fun
Freedom to create and innovate

You are giving people the freedom to ________________

“ME TOO” WON’T DO

Corporate strategy has been to mimic other companies

Mimicry

Big companies have been content to compete from virtually identical strategic playbooks and to vie for advantage on the margin
Whose products can be a little better?
Whose costs can be a little lower?
Whose target markets can be a little more attractive?

Compare the following for virtually identical strategic playbooks
GM versus Ford
CBS versus ABC
Coke versus Pepsi
American Airlines versus Delta Airlines

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If you know the names and contact info for people already working with Nascar Racing Teams or inside the Nascar Organization, we would certainly appreciate you contacting
us with the informationand how you know them. We are starting our "Little Black Book" and can use your help.

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Something genuinely new alters the trajectory of the industry:
The rise of the sport utility vehicle or 0% financing in the auto business
The creation of reality programming in the TV business
The ubiquity of bottled water and natural drinks in the beverage business
The creation of low cost airlines

You can become the author of your own destiny

Whatever I can imagine, I can accomplish

Mass Collaboration

Employees drive performance by collaborating with peers across organizational boundaries, creating what we call a “wiki workplace.”

So-called supply chains work more effectively when the risk, reward and capability to complete major projects-including massively complex products like cars, motorcycles and airplanes, are distributed across planetary network of partners who work as peers.

We The People

Profiting from Collaborative Anarchy

Please Register to Participate

The Power Of Us

Creating a New Page in Business History

Unleashing Our Collective Genius

(Your Input Needed Here)

Some of the largest blogs receive a half a million daily visitors, rivaling some daily newspapers

Text Link

Nascar Race Team Jobs and Careers (Part 2)

With this post we conclude the posting of many of the jobs that make up a Professional Racing Organization within the Nascar Nextel Cup Series.

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Network Manager
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Maintenance and Reconfiguration of Computer Networks and Stations
· Analysis of New Computer Equipment for Future Team Use
· Supervision of Team's Internet Activities and Web Sites

Operations Manager
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Supervising Team Operations
· Coordination Between Team Travel, Accounting, Expediting and Computer Personnel

Painter
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Applying paint and finishing products
· Final preparation of paint work for graphics
· Maintenance of paint booth and supplies

Parts Manager
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Maintenance of Parts Inventory and Replenishment
· Cost Control of Parts and Supplies
· Rotation of Consumables and Perishables
· Analysis of New Products
· Coordination with Parts Suppliers
· Setting Inventory Stock Levels


Parts Specialist
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Parts Department Maintenance and Parts Stocking
· Pulling Parts for Disbursement
· Preparing Requirements Lists Against Stocking Levels

Pilot
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Pre-Flight Planning
· Aircraft Maintenance Scheduling
· Preparing Aircraft Expense Summaries to Bookkeeper
· Flying Aircraft to Events as Needed
· Advising Team Manager on Flight and Flight Personnel Constraints

Public Relations
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Preparation of Team Press Releases
· Liaison with Press Personnel
· Advising Team Manager on Consequences of Public Activities

Purchasing Manager
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Purchasing Parts and Services at the Best Price and Convenience to the Team
· Assisting Parts Manager and Crew Chief in Maintaining Inventories
· Maintaining Good Relations with Suppliers


Secretary
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Preparation of Team Correspondence
· Response to Fan and Sponsor Inquiries
· Maintenance of Office Supply Inventories

Shock Specialist
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Preparation of Shock Absorber Valving
· Maintenance of Shock Absorbers
· Documentation of Shock Preparation
· Testing Shock Absorbers on Shock Dyno and Matching Performance

Security Officer
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Ensuring Team Property is Secured and Protected
· Protecting Team Personnel from Assaults and Threats
· Supervision of Team Safety
· Liaison with Local Law Enforcement
· Discreet Investigation of Security Issues with Visitors and Personnel

Shop Manager
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Supervision of Car Preparation
· Maintenance of Car Prep Scheduling and Budgets
· Advising Parts Manager of upcoming Parts Requirements


Show Car Coordinator
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Coordinating Show Car Requests
· Supervising Show Car Driver Activities
· Compiling Show Car Program Expenses to Bookkeeper

Show Car Driver
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Traveling with Show Car to Scheduled Events
· Security Management of Show Car Rig
· Washing and Presentation of Show Car Transporter
· Attending Show Events and Interfacing with Show Visitors
· Distribution of Team Materials and Sponsor Hand-outs at Show Events
· Compiling Expenses to Show Car Coordinator
Qualifications:
· Willingness to travel extensively
· Commercial Drivers License (CDL)
· May require marketing skills

Sponsor Coordinator
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Responding to Inquiries from and about Sponsors
· Compiling Requests for Submission for Scheduling

Sponsor Representative
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Analysis of Team's performance in Representing Sponsor
· Coordinating Supplies of Sponsor's Materials for Team Distribution
· Maintaining Good Relations with Team

Spotter
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Maintenance of Spotter Radios and Supplies
· Advice to Driver during Competition
· Advice to Crew Chief on Tactics
· Coordinating Deals between Teams during Competition

Team Manager
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Ultimate Responsibility for the Performance of the Team
· Driver Management
· Monitoring and Directing Schedule Performance

Team Owner
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Securing Funding to Permit Team Operations
· Monitoring Driver Performance
· Sponsor Search Management and Sponsor Relations


Tear-Down Specialist
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Disassembly of Race Cars after Usage
· Preparation of Tear-down Documentation and Measurements
· Through Cleaning of Chassis and Components

Test Team Manager
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Supervision of Test Team
· Setting Test Team Schedule Based on Requests for Development

Tire Specialist
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Preparation of Wheels
· Securing Tire assemblies Before Use
· Inspection and Organization of Tires Into Sets By Size
· Management of Tire Sets on Instruction From Crew Chief
· Inspection of Tires After Use
· Securing Tires After Event
· Maintenance and Stocking of Tire Equipment and Supplies

Track Engine Tuner
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· General Maintenance of Engines At Track
· Inspecting and Changing Valve Springs
· Inspection and Maintenance of Carburetors
· Maintenance and Stocking of Engine Spares on Transporter
· Post-Race Inspection and Tech Tear-down

Transport Driver
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Driving transporter to events
· Cleaning and parking transporter
· Supervision of transporter loading and stocking
· Management of at-track crew refreshments

Travel Coordinator
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Securing Reservations for Lodging and General Travel for Team Members
· Preparing Itineraries for Events
· Advising Bookkeeper of Per Diem Requirements for Later Dispersal
· Follow-up Auditing of Travel Details for Accounting

Welder
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· General Welding
· Maintenance of Welding Equipment and Supplies


Thank you

Doug