NASCAR Truck Series: Austin Wayne Self suspended indefinitely

NASCAR Truck Series driver Austin Wayne Self has been suspended indefinitely for violating NASCAR’s substance abuse policy.

AM Racing’s Austin Wayne Self has been suspended indefinitely from competing in the NASCAR Truck Series. This suspension comes as a result of the fact that he violated Section 12.1, which pertains to actions detrimental to stock car racing, and Section 19, which pertains to NASCAR’s substance abuse policy, of this year’s NASCAR rule book.

The 23-year-old Austin, Texas native competed in the first three races of the 2019 Truck Series season as the driver of the #22 Chevrolet. His average finish in these three races was 17.00, and he recorded a top finish of ninth place in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

Richard Petty Motorsports full-time Cup Series driver Darrell Wallace Jr. drove the #22 Chevrolet in the season’s fourth and fifth races, as Self was reportedly told to stand down from competing in these races when NASCAR became aware of a positive test from him. He took this test during the weekend of the season opener.

Before he can be reinstated, Self must complete the NASCAR Road to Recovery program. Here is his statement about his suspension.

Here is what a statement made by AM Racing, owned by Self’s father Tim, about Self’s suspension had to say, according to NASCAR.

"“AM Racing respects NASCAR’s decision and will follow their direction. We expect Austin Wayne Self to return to the seat as quickly as possible. AM Racing will continue to operate as normal with a determination of a driver lineup set in the coming weeks. We expect to emerge from this challenge as a stronger team.”"

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Self has competed in 66 Truck Series races over the course of his career in the sport, which began in the 2016 season. In these 66 races, his average career starting position is 21.4 and his average career finishing position is 18.2. He has led one of the 8,715 laps that he has completed.

Self’s career-high Truck Series finish is one of his five career top 10 finishes, and it is his lone career top five finish. He finished in second place in the 2017 season opener at Daytona International Speedway. He has competed in on full-time basis in the Truck Series for two seasons, the 2016 and 2018 seasons, and he finished in a career-high 12th place in the championship standings in the 2018 season.

There has not been any news yet regarding which driver or drivers will replace Austin Wayne Self behind the wheel of the #22 AM Racing Chevrolet during his suspension from NASCAR Truck Series competition.