CAN YOU SAY "OVERKILL?"

10,600-some-odd.

That's the number of occurrences, as determined by a Google search undertaken over the past weekend in which were included the terms "Allmendinger," "NASCAR" and "stimulant, defined as amphetamine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Eve (MDEA), MDA, PMA, Phentermine, and other amphetamine derivatives and related compounds."

Whew!

Frankly, your correspondent thought the last in-quotation-marks "object" would've contained enough and specifically ordinal words so as to be the search's death knell, perhaps then only returning a few hits and, more likely expected a, "Huh!? 'Sup wit you, dude?"

Instead returned in the results were the equal of one story appearing on The Web every minute for seven consecutive days' worth of ‘round-the-clock hours, with leftovers.

Yet, the requested oldest of the 10,600-some-odd stories originated only four days prior to the performed search.

Granted, some of the stories may have solely arisen from one source, like the Associated Press, so there weren't 10,600-some-odd stories anew.

But there were 10,600-some-odd times the search terms simultaneously appeared within stories, along with a heckuva lot of cutting and pasting of that last defined search term.

As much as this author may think himself a speed-reader (as compared to, say, a literate tortoise of some sort) he wasn't going to even attempt reading a sizeable fraction of those 10,600-some-odd stories. Yet, a spot check revealed very rare in-story references to NASCAR's ability, as stated in the same NASCAR Sprint Cup Series substance abuse chapter (specifically, 19-4-B), that the program administrator, medical review officer and "NASCAR" can theoretically deem any substance as abused, dangerous, detrimental to the sport and so on.

This observer of the situation believes the distinction important, because commonly encountered drugs like "nicotine" -- arising from a chemical class known in general as alkaloids and in which cocaine is likewise chemically classified, if not "statutorily," BTW) -- and in which fully a quarter of the U.S. population many times daily, um, "indulges," easily is among those drugs which in its "abused" usage is considered a "stimulant."

(Nicotine is a widely available drug absent of prescription requirements.)

An excerpt from Section 19-1 of the NASCAR substance abuse policy specifically states: "NASCAR prohibits the misuse of alcohol, prescription drugs, and any other substance used in a manner that affects safety or impacts the integrity of the competition, including -- but not limited to -- illegal or performance enhancing substances." (italics added)

In Section 19-4: "Prohibited Substances - For the purpose of this policy, prohibited substances are those substances that, in the PA's (program administrator) and MRO's (medical review officer) determination, in consultation with NASCAR (nascar), may adversely affect the safety and well-being and performance of a NASCAR Member at a NASCAR Event, including without limitation illegal drugs." (italics and parenthetical notes are added)

Notice the preceding citations pretty well cover the bases on the legal and illegal sides. Thus, the reason 2012 NSCS Rulebook Section 19 is partially entitled "substance" and not specifically "illegal drug" abuse. It's a catch-all that can nail a competitor, theoretically, for having eaten too much ice cream.

"Outlandish!" you enjoin?

Not if the driver may have a contrary or "allergic" reaction to milk fat. Imagine such occurring in the middle of Daytona International Speedway's 31-degree banking.

"Stupid!" is the rejoinder.

Not should a negative reaction lead to the carnage of innocents.

This writer, hisownself, as a youngin' went into anaphylactic shock after ingesting alpha S1-casein protein. We're talking ambulances, sirens, flashing lights, hospitals and edge-of-death stuff that afterward led to years of goat-milk drinking. All from a simple swig of cow’s milk. (BTW: the preceding condition and “lactose intolerant” aren’t the same.)

"C'mon! How many times might that happen!?"

Few, if the percentage of milk-triggered negative immune-system reactions is measured against a population's whole, but one cannot entirely rule out something merely for the sole reason of a probable rare occurrence -- especially when such may involve great risk to participants and fans, alike.

Can you say, "commercial aircraft" and "World Trade Center?"

Somebody did not at one time.

How about "commercial aircraft" and "no firearms allowed" when, in the case of 9-11, razor-sharp box cutters got through airport screeners, legally?

In short, that which a general citizen may routinely employ to effect an end result -- such as grabbing a cigarette (nicotine) just after silencing an end-of-sleep alarm clock -- may no longer fly insofar as NASCAR is concerned, especially should a member of that organization fail to precisely discern such on paperwork accompanying an annual request for membership or, put more commonly, a "hard card."

The Allmendinger camp probably was ill-advised to release, even though having done so in good faith, anything that connected him and "stimulant" because its greatest "stimulation" was to cause a rush to judgment by those who were quick to place Allmendinger in some crack shack -- instead of otherwise awaiting the whole deal's conclusion.

What else is new in a society that impolitely taps its foot when someone else is using the break-area microwave for all of 90-seconds?

Later,

DC