NASCAR breath test awaits Allmendinger before practice
Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
Driver AJ Allmendinger (left) talks with crew chief Mike Shiplett in the garage before practice at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 30, 2009. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
Getty Images for NASCAR
KANSAS CITY, KS - OCTOBER 03: AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #44 Valvoline Dodge, stands in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods at the Kansas Speedway on October 3, 2009 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)
AP
Drivers Jimmie Johnson (48), Kurt Busch (2) and A.J. Allmendinger (44) practice for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy 500 auto race at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala., Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
TALLADEGA, Ala. - Sprint Cup driver AJ Allmendinger found himself under intense scrutiny on Friday after his driving while impaired arrest this week.
Although NASCAR and his Richard Petty Motorsports team are allowing him to drive in Sunday's race at Talladega, NASCAR forced Allmendinger to take and pass a Breathalyzer test before he could participate in Friday's practice sessions.
Allmendinger was also assessed a $10,000 fine by his team and placed on team probation through the end of next season. NASCAR had already placed Allmendinger on probation on Thursday through the end of this season.
"We are disappointed with his actions. AJ has told us that he has accepted full responsibility for his actions and will do what is right," said a statement released by RPM.
Allmendinger, who drives the No. 44 Dodges for RPM, faces a Dec. 18 court date for one misdemeanor count of driving while impaired. Police stopped the 2007 Lexus he was driving about 1:30 a.m. Thursday in Mooresville, N.C.
According to the police report, Allmendinger had a blood-alcohol content level of 0.08 percent, which is the legal threshold for DWI in North Carolina.
In a statement, Allmendinger called the decision to drive "a bad judgement call."
"I will do my best to make it right and use this to learn myself and hopefully educate others," he said.
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