Richmond Not Eligible, Even as a Backup

The dispute between Tim Richmond and NASCAR will have to wait until after today’s Daytona 500.

Because the controversial driver did not practice in a Winston Cup car during the week, he is not eligible to drive today, even as a backup driver.

Richmond, who tested positive in a NASCAR drug-substance test Feb. 5 and then tested negative in a similar test several days later, held a press conference at his hotel Saturday and again said he was innocent in the drug controversy.

Richmond’s attorney, Barry I. Stolnick of New York, said his client was being tried by “rumors and innuendo” to keep him out of the Daytona 500 even after NASCAR revealed that the illegal substance in his system was from two over-the-counter drugs, pseudoephedrine and ibuprofen, but at 5 to 20 times the normal dosage.

“As far as we are concerned, the drug issue is a thing of the past,’ a NASCAR official said. “All Richmond needs to be reinstated is to provide recent medical records for our medical staff.”

Richmond said he would not provide them.