After being suspended indefinitely, Allmendinger claimed that he tested positive after unknowingly taking Adderall, an amphetamine. He said that a tablet was given to him by a friend of a friend and he was told that it would help with his energy level. Allmendinger said he took the pill without really knowing what it was.

Allmendinger was fired by Penske Racing following the announcement of the indefinite suspension. No announcement has been made regarding a ride for Allmendinger for the remainder of the 2012 season or 2013. Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the No. 12 entry in the Nationwide Series for Penske Racing, has been filling in behind the wheel of the No. 22 since Allmendinger’s suspension. Joey Logano has signed on to drive the No. 22 next year.

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Jul 6, 2012; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver A.J. Allmendinger during qualifying for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-US PRESSWIRE

Penske Racing announced the release of A.J. Allmendinger from duties on their race team. Allmendinger was suspended indefinitly last month for failing a random drug test administered during the race at Kentucky. After his A Sample had failed, care was taken to properly test his B Sample. The results did not prove fruitful for A.J. and he was informed that he would have to enter Nascar’s “Road To Recovery Program” in order to be re-instated.

Just for clarification, when a test sample is taken, the sample is separated into two individual thest cups. One is the A and one is the B sample. This is done for safety purposes in case the A sample is lost, mis-tested or destroyed. There are not two separate samples taken.

Penske has wished Allmendinger good luck, but are moving forward with Sam Hornish Jr. behind the wheel of the #22 Dodge for the foreseeable future. They did not say what changes will be coming in the near future, or even if a change would be made this year. They indicated they had made a serious investment in A.J.’s future, but that they would be moving forward without him.