Nascar
Allmendinger Breath Tested for Practice
Posted Oct 31, 2009 2:10 PM
TALLADEGA, Alabama (Oct. 31) - NASCAR driver A.J. Allmendinger was
required to take a breath test before Friday's practice for the Amp
Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway following his arrest on a
drunken driving charge.
Allmendinger was arrested by Mooresville, North Carolina police
early Thursday. He was placed on probation by NASCAR through the
end of the season and said he had no problem when series officials
asked him to take the test.
"I know what I've done," Allmendinger said. "I respect the
punishment and everything that I have to do to gain the trust back
of NASCAR and everybody that's out there racing with me. It's not
the best feeling in the world, but at the same point I respect that
I have to go do it."
Mooresville police said Allmendinger, who drives the No. 44
Dodge for Richard Petty Motorsports, failed a field sobriety test
after being pulled over shortly after leaving a bar.
Allmendinger registered 0.08 on the breath test, the police
report said. Under North Carolina law, that means his license will
be automatically suspended for 30 days.
On Friday, RPM fined Allmendinger $10,000, which will be donated
to charity. The team also put him on probation through the end of
next season.
Allmendinger said he hasn't spoken to Petty since the incident.
The seven-time NASCAR champion - who shunned alcohol sponsorship
during his career - released a statement on Thursday saying he was
"disappointed" in Allmendinger's actions.
Allmendinger enters Sunday's race 25th in points and is
considered part of RPM's long-term plans. Team officials told The
Associated Press that Allmendinger was going to be moved into
Petty's famed No. 43 next season. Best Buy is expected to sponsor
the car. Allmendinger said he's optimistic the incident won't mar
his future prospects.
"Hopefully, I can go out there and show people that I can learn
from it and people do get second chances," he said.
His teammates aren't particularly concerned about Allmendinger's
mistake costing RPM. Neither was Budweiser, the primary sponsor for
RPM star Kasey Kahne.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-10-31 14:02:26
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