The NASCAR substance abuse policy has been sidelining a lot of people in the sport this season.
Truck Series competitor Austin Wayne Self, multi-series competitor Bayley Currey are among the notables who have been busted during a random drug test. Now, long-time crew chief Matt Borland has been added to the list.
Borland released a statement on Monday, and he explains that his choice of coffee drink led to his flunked test.
“This past weekend I was informed by a NASCAR doctor that I had DMAA (2-amino-5-methylhexanamine) in my system. After the surprise of this and not even knowing what that was, I asked if it could have come from a diet coffee I have been drinking for the past six months. I gave the doctor all of the details of the coffee and ingredients, and after he researched it, he said he thought that this was the cause. Even after doing my due-diligence, I felt comfortable in drinking the coffee. I plan to work with NASCAR to figure out what exactly has happened and resolve this issue as quickly as we can. I will cooperate with them and do whatever is requested of me to make this situation right. I have worked in the NASCAR garage for 20 years now, and have never been a part of anything like this in my life. I take full responsibility for this incident and want to get it taken care of completely.
I would like to sincerely apologize to my team, sponsors, associates, NASCAR and my family and I look forward to resolving this situation in an efficient manner.”
Borland is a 13-time race winning crew chief in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, and his No. 13 car driven by Ty Dillon has won two Stages this season (Bristol and Talladega).
Currently, the No. 13 Germain Racing driver sits 24th in the championship standings.
Germain Racing owner Bob Germain Jr. released a statement that his race team will stand behind their crew chief.
“Matt Borland has informed me that he was notified by NASCAR that a random urinalysis showed a substance, DMAA (2-amino-5-methylhexanamine) that is impermissible under the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy. We reviewed the ingredients label on a coffee product that Matt had been drinking and it includes DMHA (2-amino-5-methylheptane), a derivative of DMAA. Based upon the ingredients label we do not believe that Matt had reason to know that the coffee contained a banned substance. However, we also understand and respect NASCAR’s decisions to strictly uphold their policies for each and every owner, driver and crew member in the garage. As an organization, we stand behind Matt. He has been and remains an integral part of our race team and we look forward to his return to the garage and pit box.”
Justin Alexander will sit in for Borland as he attempts to get reinstated by the sanctioning body.
