Cup crew member violates substance abuse policy

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Paul Chodora, a licensed crew member in the Sprint Cup Series for Mayfield Motorsports' No. 41 team, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy.

On Feb. 11, Chodora was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 7-5 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2009 Sprint Cup Series rule book.

"Mayfield Motorsports respects the decision by NASCAR to indefinitely suspend Paul Chodora," team owner and driver Jeremy Mayfield said in a statement. "We as an organization appreciate NASCAR's drug testing policies and policing efforts as it makes the sport stronger overall. If Paul doesn't comply with NASCAR's reinstatement process, then he will no longer be an employee of Mayfield Motorsports."

In September, NASCAR announced an updated drug policy, which includes random testing.

AEGIS Sciences Corporation helped design and implement NASCAR's substance-abuse policy. A computer-generated list was scheduled to be used at "most if not all" weekends to test "from 12 to 14 people," according to Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR vice president of racing operations.

O'Donnell said in a typical weekend, an average of two drivers per series would be tested with the balance coming from the ranks of over-the-wall crewmen and officials.