NASCAR: Criminal charge dropped against Tyler Dippel

The charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree has been dropped against NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Dippel.

Last Friday, NASCAR suspended Young’s Motorsports Truck Series rookie Tyler Dippel indefinitely. However, the exact reason for this suspension was not revealed at the time.

It was revealed only that he had been indefinitely suspended for violating the Member Conduct Guidelines of the NASCAR Rule Book.

Specifically, the 19-year-old Walkill, New York native violated Section 12.1 pertaining to actions detrimental to stock car racing.

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It was revealed several days later that Dippel had been charged with criminal possession of controlled substance in the seventh degree, a Class A misdemeanor, by New York State Police, in his hometown.

He was charged after troopers pulled over his car and found Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine in a pill bottle inside a backpack.

However, following a Wednesday morning court appearance in Orange County Supreme Court in Goshen, New York, this charge has been dropped.

During this court appearance, Dippel said in a statement that he had presented proof that the prescription was not his and that the person to whom it belonged accepted responsibility for leaving it in his vehicle.

As previously reported, the person to whom this prescription belonged wrote to the Orange County District Attorney’s office confirming this, and Orange County chief assistant district attorney Christopher Borek confirmed that his office received this sworn affidavit.

Dippel posted the following statement on Facebook after this charge was dropped against him.

"I would like to start by apologizing to my fans, Young’s Motorsports, NASCAR, Gander Outdoors, our partners, and my family and friends for the grief this situation has caused. Due to an ongoing investigation we have not been able to speak on the topic until today.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.I along with my team will work closely with NASCAR to hopefully be reinstated so I can be back in the Young’s Motorsports No. 02 Chevrolet. I take full responsibility for my actions.Thank you again to everyone who has supported me. I look forward to seeing everyone soon.Sincerely,Tyler Dippel"

Dippel missed one race, this past Sunday’s race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, as a result of his suspension, but he hopes to be reinstated before he misses more. D.J. Kennington served as his replacement behind the wheel of the #02 Chevrolet in this race.

UPDATE: He has been reinstated by NASCAR. Read more here.

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Tyler Dippel had competed in each of the 2019 NASCAR Truck Series season’s first 17 races and recorded three top 10 finishes, including a career-high third place finish in the regular season finale at Michigan International Speedway, and an average finish of 15.29.

The next race on the schedule is the World of Westgate 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fox Sports 1 is set to broadcast this race live from the track beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET on Friday, September 13.

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