Todd Parrott released by RPM (2nd Update)
“I was in a dark moment and it happened,’’ Parrott told host Eli Gold.
Parrott declined to reveal what banned substance he took. NASCAR indefinitely suspended him Thursday. Richard Petty Motorsports officials stated Tuesday that Parrott, who had been Aric Almirola’s crew chief, was no longer with the organization.
Richard Petty said that “there’s no room in our organization for that. It’s definitely zero tolerance. These guys are putting their life on the line. The guys on pit road, they’re putting their life on the line.’’
Almirola said he has talked to Parrott since the suspension.
“I told him that I supported him, and I just want him to get better and get back on track,’’ Almirola said Tuesday. “He’s still a good person. He’s still a good crew chief. He made a mistake and now he’s got to bounce back from it.’’
Gold asked Parrott during “NASCAR Live’’ if it was a long-time issue or something that happened that caused Parrott to be suspended.
“It’s just something that happened and my number came up,’’ Parrott said. “Not a whole lot I can say. I feel bad about it, and I’m sorry for it and I’m ready to move on.’’
Parrott said he’s scheduled to meet with a counselor Wednesday to begin NASCAR’s Road to Recovery program.
“I have the support of my family and a lot of friends in the garage to go down this path,’’ he said. “I’m sorry it came down to this, but it’s a blessing, too ,that NASCAR has a path that helps you … to be able to get back to work.’’
10/23/13 "(The dismissal) was just automatic," Richard Petty told reporters Tuesday afternoon during an appearance at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. "When he done what he did, he did his own thing. All we've done is said, 'This is the way it's got to be.'" Petty said he was "really shocked" when Parrott failed a drug test and said he never saw the crew chief acting suspiciously. But because drivers and crew members put their lives on the line every weekend, Petty said, the team took a zero-tolerance approach to Parrott's offense. "One hundred percent ain't good enough, so if anyone breaks the rule, there ain't no room in our organization for that," Petty said. USA Today
10/22/13 Todd Parrott was released from Richard Petty Motorsports on Monday for violating NASCAR's substance-abuse policy. The 19-year veteran crew chief won the 1999 Sprint Cup championship with Dale Jarrett and most recently oversaw the #43 Ford team and driver Aric Almirola. Parrott has been with RPM since 2010. He has 31 Sprint Cup wins. Parrott has already submitted his application for NASCAR's Road to Recovery program. Greg Ebert will take over as the interim crew chief for Aric Almirola's team. Fox Sports