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DRINKING AND DRIVING: What Will NASCAR Do?

by Tom Bowles, SCC Staff
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Just 27 years old, Scott Wimmer was ready to live out his dream.
Growing up in the backwoods of Wisconsin, not too far from 2003 Cup
champ Matt Kenseth, Wimmer's goal had been to make it to NASCAR's top
series full-time. He had run late models, Hooters Cup, and the
American Speed Association with lots of success, but continued to
languish in the "minor leagues" until his drives in ASA caught the
eye of Winston Cup car owner Bill Davis back in 2000. Davis gave
Wimmer a chance to compete in the Winston Cup season-ender in
Atlanta, and the young driver surprised everyone in the garage by not
only qualifying for the race, but leading under green before fading
to a 22nd-place finish.

That drive was good enough to earn him a Busch series ride for Davis,
where Wimmer racked up a handful of wins and finished in the Top 10
in points three straight years. But it was obvious what series Wimmer
wanted to be a part of, and he continued to show promise in the
handful of Cup starts Davis let him have. Then, in August, word broke
that Davis and Ward Burton would break up after eight years together
in the sport. Wimmer's break had finally come, as Davis called on him
to drive the #22 Caterpillar Dodge for 2004 and beyond. Wimmer drove
the final four races of 2003 in the car and showed a lot of promise,
finishing 9th at Phoenix and driving consistently enough to make him
a dark horse candidate for 2004 rookie-of-the-year. To top it all
off, Wimmer married longtime sweetheart Jody Ambrose during 2003, and
headed into the off-season more focused on racing and family then
ever before.

But those dreams were put in danger Sunday morning, as the NASCAR
world discovered the young star had been arrested for a DWI in High
Point, North Carolina. According to press reports, Wimmer had a blood-
alcohol level almost twice the legal limit (0.15), and wrecked a
vehicle owned by Bill Davis Racing, a 1994 Dodge Ram. To make matters
worse, his wife was given a misdemeanor charge for obstruction and
delay, a charge that may have arisen out of her desire to keep the
budding superstar from being arrested. Both have court dates set for
March 10th.


In the aftermath of this ordeal there comes a big question: how will
NASCAR handle this? One of NASCAR's biggest appeals over the past
decade has been as a "family sport." The drivers act like Opie Taylor
instead of Allen Iverson, they sign autographs for fans instead of
punching them out, and they act as role models for kids instead of
soliciting drugs from them. But with the age of drivers getting
younger and the sport continuing to surge in popularity, it was only
a matter of time before this type of incident happened to someone in
NASCAR's top series. In just the past few years, NASCAR dealt with
this issue on lower levels; Busch Series Shane Hmiel was suspended
for drug abuse after recklessly crashing out Jason Keller at Richmond
last year, and Truck Series driver Brian Rose was suspended
for "actions detrimental to the sport" (drug abuse) not long before
that (both have yet to be reinstated).

But for the first time, NASCAR has to deal with this type of offense
at its top level. While the story couldn't have broke at a better
time for them (the Super Bowl will deflect attention), with the
Daytona 500 two weeks away all eyes will be on how this situation
gets handled. Wimmer drives for one of the most well-known, respected
car owners in the business, and was set to drive a car that won the
Daytona 500 just two short years ago. Will NASCAR suspend him for the
500? For the season? Indefinitely? Or, will they call the crash
an "unfortunate incident," push it under the rug, and let it slide,
keeping in mind this same man has to drive 200 miles an hour with 42
other cars around him in just two short weeks?

The suspended Hmiel spoke out in an interview last week and talked
about how NASCAR's drug policy is the best in the business. "It's
what every sport needs and I think it needs to be enforced in every
sports as much as it is in NASCAR," he said. "That's why NASCAR's the
number one growing sport. The France family and Mike Helton have done
a hell of a job building this sport up and won't let (drugs) screw it
up." Supposedly, Hmiel is randomly drug tested by NASCAR anytime,
anyplace. He has been suspended for five months now, and it could
take another few more before the sanctioning body considers
reinstating him.

So now Brian France, under tons of criticism this off-season for a
variety of different decisions, has the chance to set a standard.
Scott Wimmer was the first Nextel Cup driver to make this kind of
mistake, but he certainly won't be the last. And this type of offense
takes on added importance where a drug or alcohol induced bobble on
the track could cost another driver not just a good finish, but his
life. It would seem NASCAR is neglecting that unless Wimmer is
suspended, for the Daytona 500 at the very least, and put through a
rigorous alcohol rehabilitation program before reinstatement.

What little we've seen of the drug policy appears to be positive;
let's hope France sets a standard that continues that trend, or else
NASCAR may be on its way towards a more negative image this country's
other major sports too often portray.

Reach Tom at tkbowles@...

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"Wimmer drives for one of the most well-known, respected car owners
in the business,..."

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