Randy LaJoie Speaks Out About Drug Suspension, Reinstatement

Newly reinstated by NASCAR after a failed drug test this summer, former NASCAR series champion Randy LaJoie opened up to FanHouse about the fateful May night he smoked marijuana, the ensuing NASCAR-mandated treatment since his June 22 suspension, his future in racing and his opportunity to teach his teenage children about owning up and making right.

"It was an isolated incident, but I was guilty as charged, no excuses,'' the two-time Nationwide (formerly Busch) Series champion LaJoie said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

"I called NASCAR before it all came out even and said, 'I did it. Now what do I have to do to get back?' ''

"That was the way I was taught. When you do something wrong, you need to fix it.''

Of the 32 people suspended for positive drug tests in the last five seasons under NASCAR's random testing policy, LaJoie is one of 10 who have been reinstated, according to NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston.

A major step was simply getting NASCAR to release a statement last Wednesday announcing that he had been reinstated, considering his suspension had been scroll fodder on sports channels when it was originally announced. NASCAR has publicly revealed all the suspensions, but this is the first time it has announced a reinstatement.

"We want to see competitors take advantage of the (treatment) program, that's why it exists,'' Poston said. "Anytime someone can make a successful comeback is a victory for everyone.''

Speaking candidly and matter-of-factly, LaJoie confirmed he smoked marijuana following the May 30 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He had been shuttling people around on golf carts during the race working with his local church group. He ran into some friends tailgating near the track as he was about to head home and accepted their offer for a late dinner. And, he conceded, he smoked a small amount of marijuana with the group later.

As it turned out, though, LaJoie had to take an unexpected drug test only four days later.

Despite already having two NASCAR licenses (as a manufacturer and a team owner) he found out that he still needed to apply for a Nationwide Series license to serve as Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) driver Brad Coleman's spotter for the June 5 Nashville race.

Two weeks after spotting for Coleman, LaJoie received a call from the lab saying he'd tested positive for marijuana. NASCAR suspended him June 22 for violation of its substance abuse policy.

It cost him the opportunity to work for the championship Joe Gibbs Racing organization, it cost him his analyst job with ESPN and it cost him his reputation.

"The worst part was the embarrassment of the family, my mom and dad, the kids and the brand I've been trying to build as a safety guy who is passionate about the sport.''
"The worst part was the embarrassment of the family, my mom and dad, the kids and the brand I've been trying to build as a safety guy who is passionate about the sport.''

LaJoie said he quickly learned who his real friends were. He received an in-box full of e-mail -- most wishing him support in his comeback. Others chided him for his lapse in judgment.

"Some people were leaving me messages asking me if I was hanging out with (rapper) Snoop Dogg,'' said LaJoie, who began his treatment plan immediately.

"I had to to have two different assessments, which was the closest thing I've ever come to seeing a shrink,'' he said. "After meeting with the counselors, they decided I didn't need the intense treatment in my case. I filled out a bunch of paperwork, I started some faith-based counseling and they randomly tested me every week for six weeks. All my tests were clean and I will be on the radar, so to speak, for the next two years.''

Obviously each case is different, but LaJoie wonders why driver Jeremy Mayfield didn't also issue a mea culpa after testing positive for drugs instead of engaging in a very public and protracted lawsuit with NASCAR.

"I was critical of Mayfield because if I was in his shoes and racing full-time for a livelihood and NASCAR said, 'Give me your hard card, you're done, you tested dirty' and then a week later you say you're clean ... if I was clean I'd say, 'Let me pee in a cup right here in front you to prove it.'

"It was just a little crazy that a week later, he said he was clean, but couldn't find a place to pee in a cup.

"For me, I was guilty, I knew I was guilty, so what did I have to do to fix it?''

For LaJoie, that process began with acknowledgment and remedy.

"In the days after all this came to light, I was calling Larry McReynolds, Robert Pressley, calling and apologizing to all these dads whose kids are always at my home hanging out with my sons,'' LaJoie said. "My kids have seen what I went through and hopefully they say, 'We don't want to do that.' "

LaJoie's 18-year old son Corey has shown some real driving talent and promise in NASCAR's K&N East Series. Ironically, that's why LaJoie was going to become a spotter with JGR, to learn from a championship organization and possibly open some doors for his son.

He's hopeful that team president JD Gibbs will give him another chance soon. And he'd like to work at ESPN again, having finally started feeling comfortable with his tell-it-like-it-is style in front of the camera.

"This has made life tougher, but at the end of the day, I'll be a better person because of it,'' LaJoie said.