Bayley Currey was tabbed to drive Rick Ware Racing’s No. 52 car this weekend in the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, but he has now been suspended for failing a drug test that was administered last week.
“This weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, NASCAR informed me that I failed a random drug test administered last week,” Currey said in a team release. “I spoke with NASCAR’s Doctor where he explained that I had DMAA (2-Amino-5-methylhexane) in my system. I take a pre-workout supplement, Juggernaut Irate, and this ingredient is indeed in the supplement. I was obviously not aware that I was violating NASCAR’s Substance Abuse Policy. I have immediately asked NASCAR to enter me into the Road to Recovery Program where I will gain more knowledge about such banned supplements and I will fully cooperate with NASCAR’s direction and advice. I have worked very hard for a lifetime to reach this level and I am eternally grateful to be afforded the privilege to compete in the sport that I love. I want to publicly apologize to my Owner’s Rick and Lisa Ware, all the employees of Rick Ware Racing, my Sponsors, NASCAR, and most importantly the Fans. My lack of knowledge is no excuse for this to happen. I will expediently complete the process and I will strive to have my suspension lifted as soon as possible.”
Rick Ware stands by NASCAR’s decision to suspend his driver, but he also stands by his driver and feels that it was an honest mistake that Currey made in taking a substance on the banned list.
“At Rick Ware Racing, we stand by NASCAR’s decisions to uphold the Drug Policy for each and every owner, driver and crew member in the garage,” Ware said. “We believe that Bayley Currey has made an honest mistake, by not checking his pre-workout supplements for ingredients that are not allowed through the NASCAR systems. As an organization, we stand behind Bayley’s Road to Recovery journey, and will always have a place for him within our organization.”
Currey has made nine Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts for the organization in 2019, with a best finish of 25th at Pocono Raceway a few weeks ago.