NASCAR driver reinstated after substance abuse violation

Alpha Prime Racing co-owner and driver Caesar Bacarella has been reinstated by NASCAR after his suspension for violating the substance abuse policy.

Early in the offseason following the 2021 NASCAR season, Xfinity Series driver and team co-owner Caesar Bacarella enrolled in the Road to Recovery program.

He was found to have committed a violation of Sections 12.1; 19 in the NASCAR Rule Book, relating to the substance abuse policy. Bacarella was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR for the infraction.

Just a few months before his suspension was announced, the 46-year-old Parkland, Florida native, who competed part-time for DGM Racing throughout the season, had formed a partnership with Martins Motorsports for the 2022 season.

This partnership made Bacarella a co-owner of the team, which would be renamed Alpha Prime Racing, along with Tommy Joe Martins and Craig Martins.

Alpha Prime Racing released a statement after Bacarella’s suspension indicating that he was found in violation of this policy because he unknowingly took a workout supplement banned by NASCAR.

But now, less than a week before the start of the 2022 season, NASCAR has reinstated Bacarella.

Bacarella, who is now eligible to return to all NASCAR activity, is lined up to compete in four races throughout the 33-race 2022 season, including the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway this Saturday, February 19. So his suspension did not cause him to miss any races.

He is set to attempt to qualify for the race behind the wheel of the #45 Chevrolet, though this could present a challenge, as there are 38 spots open and 47 drivers on the entry list.

He is set to drive the #44 Chevrolet in the other three superspeedway races on the schedule at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, April 23, Daytona International Speedway on Friday, August 26, and Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, October 1.

Bacarella has made 21 career Xfinity Series starts since he began competing in the series in 2017. He competed in six races for B.J. McLeod Motorsports, including two in 2017 and four in 2018, before moving to DGM Racing. He made one start for the team in 2018, three in 2019, six in 2020 and five in 2021, though he failed to qualify for a sixth.

His career-best finish is 12th place in the 2021 season opener at Daytona International Speedway, and his average finish is 28.8.

Other drivers set to compete for Alpha Prime Racing throughout the 2022 season include Tommy Joe Martins, Ryan Ellis, Kaz Grala, Josh Bilicki, Rajah Caruth, Howie DiSavino III and Sage Karam.