Allmendinger case – someone is lying

Either David Higdon, NASCAR Communications, or Tara Ragan, VP of Walldinger Racing, are not being truthful with the media. As you can see from NASCAR Race Hub on SPEED, below in direct quotes (in red) from Higdon saying that Allmendinger has been informed what the drug in question was and Ragan saying they do not yet know.

David Higdon, NASCAR Director of Integrated Marketing Communications

Danielle Trotta: Without revealing the specific stimulant that A.J. tested positive for, can you tell us if you, NASCAR, know what that specific stimulant is, and if you’ve told A.J. Allmendinger and his team that information.

David Higdon: Actually, specific substance, not stimulant, that is something that they said. We don’t reveal the actual substance. But it’s part of the protocol that’s outlined in our rulebook, the medical review officer does in fact inform the competitor of the exact substance that he or she has tested positive for. That information is also conveyed to NASCAR.

Trotta: So, per the rulebook, NASCAR has told A.J. Allmendinger what specifically that banned substance is?

Higdon: Correct.

Tara Ragan, Walldinger Racing Vice President

Danielle Trotta: Let’s clarify a few things, at this point, a few weeks ago rather, you identified that A.J. came up for a banned stimulant. Do you have any more details tonight? Has any testing proven exactly what stimulant it is?

Tara Ragan: As we understand it. No. They did specimen ‘B’ that came back positive as we issued. But, what we are waiting for is a follow-up packet that has some more detailed information. Other than that, we don’t know about that. There are things that we know that it’s not, but the way that these reports are broken down, I know there’s been a lot of questions about that, and it’s not being evasive – I know people have said it’s kind of secretive – it’s just a process we’re all trying to learn and be respectful of that process, but also try to read report. But there are things we know that it’s not – we haven’t been informed yet of what it is.

Trotta: Tara, we know that there is testing available to identify what the substance is at a molecular level. You’re waiting for some of those results. Just to follow up, when you find out what that substance is specifically, will you be announcing that?

Ragan: Um… I honestly don’t know. I don’t see why we wouldn’t, you know. The answer is I don’t know. If I was giving an honest answer, I don’t know. But I don’t foresee a moment why we wouldn’t.

[Editor's Note: In the same interview Higdon says AJ and his team were informed specifically what the substance was and Ragan says she does not know. What are they hiding? Just how bad was it? Ragan admitted in another interview that he tested positive for a stimulant. NASCAR defines stimulants as amphetamine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Eve (MDEA), MDA, PMA, Phentermine and other amphetamine derivatives and related compounds]