NASCAR suspends two-time Nationwide champ LaJoie for drug use

Autoracing Betting Lines

06/22/2010 - Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - NASCAR on Tuesday indefinitely suspended Randy LaJoie, a crew member for Joe Gibbs Racing's No.18 team in the Nationwide Series, for violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy.

During an interview with Sirius NASCAR Radio earlier in the day, LaJoie, a two-time Nationwide driver champion, admitted to smoking marijuana once following the May 30 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. On June 11, LaJoie was found to have violated NASCAR's substance abuse policy after he took a random drug test in order to become a spotter for Gibbs' team.

"I screwed up," LaJoie told Sirius Speedway host Dave Moody during the interview. "NASCAR tested me the day when I wanted to go spot for someone at Nashville. I already have two NASCAR licenses, but they said I needed a spotter's license, and that included taking a drug test. I took the test, and got a call a few days later, saying I had tested positive for marijuana."

LaJoie competed in all three of NASCAR's national touring series, including 44 starts in the Cup Series. He won his Nationwide titles back-to-back from 1996-97. LaJoie has not raced in a NASCAR event since November 2006 at Texas Motor Speedway.

He had been serving as an analyst for ESPN's coverage of NASCAR.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

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