Stimulant caused AJ Allmendinger's positive in NASCAR's drug test

While the Penske driver continues to await the result of a test of his 'B' sample taken on June 29 during the Sprint Cup event at Kentucky Speedway, Tara Ragan, vice president of Walldinger Racing Inc, has confirmed that a non-specified stimulant was detected in the driver's 'A' sample, leading to his temporary suspension from NASCAR, effective since last weekend's race at Daytona.

"AJ tested positive for a stimulant," Ragan said in the statement issued Wednesday. "He has no idea why the first test was positive, and he has never knowingly taken any prohibited substance. AJ is collecting his medicines and supplements for testing to determine whether an over the counter product caused his positive test.

"AJ and all of us at Walldinger Racing respect NASCAR's testing program, and he has requested that his 'B' sample be tested as part of the process of getting to the bottom of this.

"We will have the opportunity to review all of the scientific data surrounding the test following the 'B' sample test, but our understanding is that AJ's test was slightly above the threshold.

"As of this morning, we have not been given notice of when the testing of the "B" sample will take place."

On Tuesday, Allmendinger issued a statement where he claims he "would never knowingly take a prohibited drug", while his boss Roger Penske said his NASCAR organisation stays behind its driver, hoping to understand the results of the 'A' sample test while expecting the latest one finds the Californian "clean".

According to NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy, prohibited stimulants include amphetamine, metamphetamine, Ecstasy, Eve, MDA, PMA, Phentermine and other amphetamine derivatives and related compounds.

Also the use of any illegal drug or over-the-counter medications acquired illegally are strictly prohibited.