Austin Wayne Self Suspended by NASCAR for Substance Abuse Violation

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Correspondent 

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

NASCAR announced on Monday via the penalty report that Self violated Section 12.1 (actions detrimental to stock-car racing) and Section 19 (NASCAR’s substance abuse policy) of the 2019 NASCAR Rule Book.

This season, Self has competed in three of the five Truck Series events. He finished ninth in the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway. Self last competed for his father’s team at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the No. 22 Go Texan / JB Henderson Construction Chevrolet Silverado for AM Racing.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace has wheeled the No. 22 truck in the two most recent events at Martinsville Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. Self was 12^th in the championship standings prior to Wallace stepping into the truck.

Self was 18^th in the championship standings at the time of his suspension.

Self has 66 starts in the Truck Series. His best finish to date was a runner-up in the 2017 season-opener. In total, the 23-year-old has one top-five and five top-10 finishes.

“AM Racing respects NASCAR’s decision and will follow their direction,” AM Racing’s statement read. “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.”

To be reinstated, Self must complete the Road to Recovery program. Spencer Gallagher and A.J. Allmendinger are the two most recent drivers that have gone through the Road to Recovery program.

The next race on the Truck Series schedule is the JEGS 200 at Dover International Speedway May 3.