A NASCAR driver in Central Florida for SpeedWeeks is under arrest for drugs. A deputy pulled over Sammy Potashnick in Flagler county. The deputy arrested Potashnick after noticing his car going north in the southbound lane on a divided road… heading right for him. When deputies finally pulled him over, they say he didn’t know where he was at the time. Police say he admitted to taking numerous vicatin painkillers without a prescription and smoking crack cocaine. Both of which were found inside the car. Potashnick who was in town to get more sponsors for his racing company, was scheduled to make his Busch series debut next weekend in Rockingham(NC). No word if that will happen. NASCAR is investigating the incident.(icFlorida/WFTV/Insider Racing)(2-15-2002)
UPDATE: Sammy Potashnick was arrested Thursday and charged with possession of crack cocaine and prescription drugs without a prescription. Potashnick, 27, of Sikeston, MO., who is second in NASCAR’s Winston West Series and was scheduled to drive in this year’s Busch Series, has won more than $12,000 in the Winston West Series this year in his No. 65 Chevrolet. Potashnick had been scheduled to drive in the BGN for Jay Robinson’s #49 team at the Rockingham 200 in North Carolina next Saturday. Robinson, in Daytona Beach for Speed Weeks, said it was too soon to say whether Potashnick would be allowed to drive the #49 car next week. Potashnick was not scheduled to race this week at Daytona. He was arrested on Old Kings Road about 4:30 a.m. Thursday after what a Flagler County sheriff’s deputy described as a near head-on collision. According to authorities, Potashnick was on the wrong side of the road driving north on Old Kings Road near its intersection with Palm Coast Parkway. When deputy Jason Jolicoeur turned south onto the road, Potashnick swerved to avoid him. Jolicoeur decided to pull Potashnick over. The race car driver was disoriented, carrying prescription drugs of some kind without a prescription bottle and had a rock of crack cocaine in a cigarette box stashed in the center console of his rental car, the Sheriff’s Office said. Deputy David Edmonds, riding with Jolicoeur, arrested Potashnick after the brief interview, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Potashnick was taken to Memorial Hospital-Flagler to be checked out, then to the Flagler County Inmate Facility where he was booked on the charges and subsequently released on $10,000 bail. Officials from Lucas Oil Products Inc., which sponsors Potashnick’s SP Racing team, expressed surprise Thursday night on learning of the news, but said they would have no comment until Friday morning. Jolicoeur said Potashnick told the deputies he had taken some prescription drugs after a family argument.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-15-2002)
UPDATE: Jay Robinson Racing [#49] is still trying to decide on a driver for the BGN race Saturday at Rockingham. Sammy Potashnick was supposed to drive the car this weekend but was arrested last week on a felony charge of possession of crack cocaine. Potashnick is listed as the driver on the entry list, but the team has an option to change drivers. Team owner Jay Robinson also has entered a car for Kirk Shelmerdine, who placed 31st for the team at Daytona last weekend. NASCAR spokesman Herb Branham said the sanctioning body is discussing the issue but had made no decision on whether Potashnick would be eligible to race Saturday.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-20-2002)
UPDATE 3: Sammy Potashnick, who was supposed to make his Busch Series debut Saturday at Rockingham, has been suspended by NASCAR following a felony charge of possession of crack cocaine last week in Flagler County. “He has been temporarily suspended pending a thorough investigation of the incident,” NASCAR spokesman Rob Copeland said. Potashnick, a former Winston West driver, was scheduled to drive for car owner Jay Robinson, who also has entered a car for Kirk Shelmerdine in the race this weekend.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-22-2002)
UPDATE 4: The NASCAR driver arrested on drug possession charges in Palm Coast on Feb. 14 has issued a statement denying wrongdoing. Sammy Potashnick, 27, of Sikeston, Mo., was charged after a traffic stop with possession of crack cocaine and a prescription drug for which he had no prescription. Monday, the Jay Robinson Inc. racing team issued a news release saying Potashnik had a prescription, and that the cocaine found in the car was not his but could have been left by a previous driver of the rental car.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-26-2002)
UPDATE 5 – statement: NASCAR Winston West Driver Sammy Potashnick made a statement on Monday about the charges against him. See the full statement at BGN Racing.(2-27-2002)
UPDATE 6: On March 6, 2002, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the appeal of Samuel Potashnick, II.. The appeal pertained to an indefinite suspension issued by NASCAR following an arrest in Flagler County, Florida in February of 2002. The penalty did not stem from a racing competition. During the hearing, Mr. Potashnick made a strong and persuasive argument for his dedication to the sport. The Commission finds that NASCAR was correct in its decision to suspend Mr. Potashnick in light of the facts available at that time.. Given the nature of high-speed stock car racing, when a serious question arises about the possible improper use of a drug or controlled substance by a competitor, suspension can be and usually is appropriate, even in cases where legal action may still be ongoing.. It is the responsibility of NASCAR to act when compelling information leads to reasonable suspicion.. Such action on NASCARs part does not prejudge guilt or innocence, but serves the best interests of the sport and the safety of other competitors. The Commission notes that NASCAR has provided an avenue for possible future resolution of the indefinite suspension if and when pertinent new facts come to light. It is therefore the unanimous decision of the National Stock Car Racing Commission to uphold the penalty assessed by NASCAR.. The Appellant has the right, under Section 15 of the NASCAR Rule Book, to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Commissioner.(NASCAR PR)(3-7-2002)
