NASCAR, DRUGS AND PUBLIC IMAGE
In recent news, NASCAR reported suspending three members for substance abuse violations. This wasn't a huge shock to the public since NASCAR has adopted a random drug testing policy new for this racing season. The three employees, who were crew members, were suspended at Bristol Motor Speedway two weeks ago. These suspensions come after driver Jeremy Mayfield's suspension, which was a result of Mayfield testing positive for methamphetamines during his random drug screening at the beginning of the season. Currently, a total of ten crew members and one driver (Mayfield) have been suspended since the beginning of the testing at the start of the season.
So what does this mean for the business of NASCAR? Mayfield's suspension has been the topic of heated debate presently. NASCAR has been receiving strong opposition to its decision since this is the first time a driver has ever been submitted to random drug testing, failed, and subsequently suspended. Critics from USA Today claim "overriding suspensions would make the program not credible." Not only would the program be a failure, but NASCAR itself would be viewed as less credible as well.
In addition to a lack of credibility, Fanhouse.com reported NASCAR has been receiving enormous amounts of bad publicity from the situation just as the race season had begun. This is a huge concern with the recent decline in attendance and viewership that the business is already facing. With costs on the rise for NASCAR, buying "good" publicity will be even more costly to fix the damage these suspensions have caused.
So where do the fans come in? Will we see a shift in fan loyalty? Since we view NASCAR as a tightly knit community, it seems only right to assume that NASCAR fans want their favorite drivers to be good role models for their community and for their children, the younger fans. Will there be another decrease in attendance and viewership due to a loss of interest? Will loyal NASCAR fans not want to deal with the politics and consequences of this new drug testing policy? Or will they stand by their sport as the season progresses? It seems only time will tell, but with the race season well underway and eleven people already suspended, the future does not seem promising.
And that's the view from here.
LH
Comments
Mayfield wasn't suspended at the beginning of the season, but after the May race in Richmond. He was tested, along with all the other drivers, before Daytona in February and passed, evidently, because he raced until after Richmond.
Posted by: Riterchick | September 17, 2009 4:00 PM
Dear VCU,I have always been a big supporter of Nascar and the positive stance they take to keep the sport clean from drug abuse.The zero tolerance policy has worked well for them and I support Nascar all the way.Stock car racing is dangerous enough without having someone on drugs driving or working on the cars.Thank you.
Posted by: Mike Ray | September 17, 2009 7:55 PM
Good article I think the NASCAR stance on Mr. Mayfield Is probaly right since If all remember Mayfield and his Lawyer said in public there was Meth. in his system They dont know how it got there.Mayfield in his pursuit of NASCAR seems real bogus since he is coming up with many aqusations on everyone step mother is good example which she being a drug user and alcholic is probaly true but she cant be dismissed completely because she said she seen J do it many of times and rightly so because she was with him it would seem NASCAR took a hard stand and if the nfl nhl nba ect had did the same years ago you wouldve never seen the wife beating,killing,var fighting,cussing sports figures youve seen in the last few years I think all sprts venues should take a NASCAR policy to heart and in doing so NASCAR and all others should just start suspending any one tested ositive and have the police pick them up for a complete test and let them handle it all That would ut the end to most of it but then you have people still getting put out even after Jeremy the outlook for NASCAR will be good this and some other things that upset some fans will just get rid of the not very loyal ones anyways I just hope it ends soon so i dont have to hear "bloggers" just coming to sites JUst to put down NASCAR WHEW
Posted by: Paul Denton | September 17, 2009 8:40 PM