Thunder Road Int'l Speedbowl News

Former Milk Bowl Winner LaJoie Fails Drug Test, Suspended

- Justin St. Louis on 23 Jun 2010

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Former two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Randy LaJoie failed a NASCAR drug test and has been indefinitely suspended by the sanctioning body in violation of its substance abuse policy. LaJoie has also been indefinitely suspended by ESPN, the broadcast company he works for as an analyst for Nationwide Series events and the “NASCAR Now” program.

LaJoie, a native of Norwalk, Conn., won the 1984 Vermont Milk Bowl at Barre’s Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl.

While applying for a NASCAR spotter’s license as part of a one-race contract with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series on June 3, LaJoie submitted to a NASCAR drug test. On June 11, he was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2010 NASCAR rule book. The test found that LaJoie had used marijuana.

LaJoie took full responsibility for the incident, admitting to using marijuana in what he described as an isolated incident during a post-race party at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 30. He discussed the event in a statement on Sirius Satellite Radio with “Sirius Speedway” host Dave Moody on Tuesday.

“I take full responsibility for my actions and I respect NASCAR's decision,” LaJoie said. “I wish to apologize to my wife and family first, to NASCAR, to my fans and to the various media companies which I work for, including ESPN, Sirius Radio and Performance Racing Network.

“My use of marijuana was an isolated incident following the Coca-Cola 600. I plan to follow the recommendations of the substance abuse counselor and suggestions of NASCAR and hope that someday I can prove to NASCAR and all the people with whom I associate that I have taken such steps to see that instances such as this do not reoccur.”

LaJoie also said that he has enrolled in a substance abuse program.

LaJoie raced with the Tom Curley-led NASCAR North Tour -- the precursor to the present-day American-Canadian Tour -- from 1982 to 1985. LaJoie was awarded the series’ 1985 championship after a three-year court battle involving a scoring dispute at the former Catamount Stadium in Milton. Half of his ten career victories in the series came at Thunder Road (two wins) and Catamount (three wins).

LaJoie won the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship in 1996 and 1997, and founded custom racing seat and safety equipment manufacturer The Joie Of Seating in 1999.

(ESPN photo)