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A second crew member has been suspended indefinitely for violation of NASCAR's substance abuse policy.

It's the second suspension in the two months since NASCAR instituted a new drug testing policy for the 2009 season. As opposed to being concerned about having multiple violators, NASCAR officials say the findings confirm the integrity of the sport and its zero tolerance policy.

"We made a good program even better," NASCAR spokesmen Ramsey Poston said Wednesday. "What it shows is everyone is going to be tested. And it removes all doubt that the competitors at the track are clean."

If nothing else from NASCAR's Labor Day weekend trip to Auto Club Speedway in southern California is a positive, at least the sanctioning body is taking steps to make the sport safer in the coming weeks.

NASCAR CEO Brian France announced Sunday at the track that NASCAR will be unveiling a new drug testing policy in the coming weeks that will likely take effect when the 2009 season begins at Daytona in February.

NASCAR officials have approached several teams in recent weeks, using them as sounding boards on ideas for the new policy. A form of random testing is expected, members of several team sources have confirmed.

"We're going to expand the scope of the policy," NASCAR's Brian France said. "That's where we are today. We have a very good policy," he said.

"We will be looking at broadening testing, even though we have a lot of latitude today. We're going to broaden it. The circumstances around all of sports have changed in the past three, four or five years. We need to be mindful of that."

That stance is a long way from the one NASCAR originally took earlier this season when former driver Aaron Fike admitted that he used heroin on race days.

In case you missed it, suspended Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike dropped a compelling interview on the pages of ESPN the Magazine this week talking about his heroin bust dating back to last summer.

For a quick refresher, Fike, who had just finished 5th at Nashville in a race, was caught outside Kings Island amusement park near Cincinnati, Oh. last summer with his bride-to-be with heroin and drug-related items. He was later suspended indefinitely from NASCAR competition.

In his interview, Fike talked at some length about his growing habit, then dropped this bombshell on the racing world:

"It was pretty obvious what we were doing," Fike admitted. "So when they tapped on the window I tried to get the hell out of there. Now I know that being arrested saved both of our lives."

Only seven days earlier Fike had posted a career-best fifth-place finish in the O'Reilly 200 at the .75-mile Memphis Motorsports Park. The run boosted the rookie of the year favorite to eighth in the NCTS championship standings. He said he used heroin earlier that day.

Yes, that's right. Fike had heroin in his system while racing in a NASCAR-sanctioned event.

Say all you want about the driver, but he's the one changing his life and helping others after making a mistake that ultimately has ruined his racing career for the time being.

But what has NASCAR done? Changed their policies? Learned a lesson?

Not even close.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike and his fiancée, Casi Davidson, have been arrested on drug possession charges:

According to police, Fike struck a Kings Island security officer with the side mirror of his car as he drove away.

When Mason police arrived on the scene, they found heroin inside his SUV as well as syringes and spoons with residue.

Fike, who sits eighth in points, currently drives for Red Horse Racing. To my knowledge, the team has not yet released a statement.

Yet another NASCAR driver flushing his career down the drain instead of the drugs.

And heroin? That's a new one to me for NASCAR. Cocaine, yes. Heroin? That's a whole different ballgame.

Update: Statement from Red Horse Racing

According to news sources, Aaron Fike, who has made 12 starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series behind the wheel of the No. 1 RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota this year, and his fiancée Casi Davidson were arrested at Kings Island theme park in Ohio on Saturday on drug possession charges.

"We were made aware of this incident this afternoon," said Red Horse Racing's General Manager and Team Owner, Tom DeLoach. "We are working with NASCAR to obtain further information on the incident and will release more information as the facts become available to us."

Previously on Fanhouse
NASCAR Suspends NCTS Driver Indefinitely