DRIVERS: TOUGHEN DRUG POLICY

NASCAR Official Hints At Changes In Wake Of Hmiel's Suspension For
Substance Abuse

DOVER, Del. - Several drivers on Friday said they want NASCAR to implement
a mandatory, or at least tougher, drug testing policy.

Their comments come in the aftermath of Thursday's indefinite suspension of
Busch Series driver Shane Hmiel for a second violation of NASCAR's
substance abuse policy within two years.

"We're athletes. We're professional athletes," Nextel Cup driver Ryan
Newman said. "I guess the thing that has been considered in the past is
there are actual advantages to the substances.

"I don't use them and have never thought about using them. Is it an
advantage? I don't know. At the same time, is it harmful to the user?
That's probably more of the issue in my eyes."

On Thursday, NASCAR's vice president of corporate communications, Jim
Hunter, said some change in the policy was possible.

"What this does is draw attention to the wrong things," he said. "As a
result of that, there could be some additional testing."

Since 1988, when the policy went into effect, NASCAR has had the authority
to conduct testing, but it must have a reasonable suspicion before ordering
a test.

Hmiel's suspension and the issues surrounding it were major topics Friday
at Dover International Speedway.

Reaction to Hmiel's suspension ranged from disappointment to disbelief.

"I think we need to keep the integrity in this sport and if it takes more
random testing than we have now, I consider that a positive step," said
Robbie Loomis, crew chief for four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon.

Steve Hmiel, Shane's father and interim crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr.,
declined to comment on his son's suspension.

Citing "reasonable suspicion," Hmiel was tested following last Friday's
Busch Series qualifying at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord.

NASCAR shared results with Hmiel late Thursday afternoon at Dover, and
Hmiel then left the track.

Between the test and Hmiel's departure from the track, he competed in the
Busch race at Charlotte and one practice session at Dover.

Privately, several drivers Friday questioned NASCAR's decision to allow
Hmiel to compete while waiting on the results.

Loomis and driver Jeff Burton, however, said they hadn't considered the
possibility a driver would compete under the influence of a banned substance.

"I probably give too much credit that some of them wouldn't would do that
and put other people in harm's way," Loomis said.

Said Burton: "I know who the people are who give me trouble and I watch out
for them consistently. Never have I looked at someone on the race track and
said, 'I can't run around him because he might be on drugs.'

- -- The Associated Press Contributed To This Article.