NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series driver Tyler Dippel appeared in court in Wallkill, N.Y., on Wednesday to face charges of possession of a controlled substance. Charges were dropped, and as a result, an indefinite NASCAR suspension for "actions detrimental to stock car racing" was lifted.
Dippel was pulled over Aug. 18 after leaving Orange County Fair Speedway. A search of his vehicle revealed a backpack containing Adderall. The pills were in their prescription bottle, but the person to whom the prescription belonged was not in the vehicle. Ingredients of Adderall include amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, two substances banned by NASCAR. The racing sanctioning body officially announced Dippel's suspension Aug. 23.
Following his court appearance, Dippel released the following announcement: "On August 18, while driving home from the Orange County Fair Speedway, I was pulled-over for changing lanes without proper signal. The trooper asked my passenger and myself if we had been using drugs and we responded with “no” – because we hadn’t.
"The trooper continued to question us and then asked to search the vehicle, which I gave him my consent as I had nothing to hide. In the back of my truck was a friend’s backpack who was not with us containing his prescription medication. Because it was in my vehicle, I was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. Upon my appearance ticket, I contacted NASCAR within hours to inform them of the situation. Due to the NASCAR rule book and code of conduct, they ruled to suspend me indefinitely. I respect their decision.
"Early this morning, at the Town of Wallkill Court, the charges against me in this case were dismissed. We presented proof that the prescription was not mine and the person that the prescription belonged to accepted responsibility for leaving them in my vehicle.”
Dippel missed the Chevrolet Silverado 250 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Aug. 25. D.J. Kennington substituted behind the wheel of the No. 02 Young's Motorsports Chevrolet for that race and finished 15th. The Truck Series returns to action Sept. 13 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
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