Found this on Nascar.com, what do you guys think, do think many drivers take ephedra? And if Wallace doesn't take it even though it is his sponsor, does that mean that MArk Martin might not take viagra? 
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR is hiring an expert on the use and effects of dietary supplements that contain the stimulant ephedra.
"We're talking to an expert in that field," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said Wednesday. "It's not so much a health expert as it is a drug expert, although I hate to ever use the word drugs in relation to NASCAR."
Ephedra is banned in college athletics, the NFL, minor league baseball and the Olympics. It was partly to blame for the heatstroke death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler last month.
After Bechler's death, questions arose about the possible use of products for weight loss or extra energy by NASCAR drivers and crew members faced with a grueling 38-race schedule and heavy race-day pressure for quick pit stops and wins.
NASCAR does random drug tests, but ephedra is not among its banned substances.
"We read the papers and hear about things, too," said Hunter, adding the stock car sanctioning body began the process of hiring an outside expert within the past two weeks.
Al Shuford, head trainer for Chip Ganassi Racing, was quoted by USA Today as saying an estimated 80 percent of NASCAR's crew members have at least tried ephedra.
"I do not believe that number," Hunter said, pointing out that supplement manufacturer Stacker 2, sponsor of Kenny Wallace's Winston Cup car, handed out samples to the teams earlier this year.
Hunter said Winston Cup director John Darby and his staff are investigating to determine if anyone in the sport is using ephedra. He added that the investigation is also "a priority" for Gary Nelson, who heads NASCAR's new research and development facility.
"We want to find out who is using it and what they're using it for," Hunter said. He added that NASCAR is also talking with Bill Davis, who owns Wallace's car.
"We don't know a lot about this, yet, and we want to find out what we're dealing with before we react," Hunter said. "We don't even know if it's a problem for us or not."
Wallace went to NVE Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Stacker 2, after Bechler's death.
"I said, 'Hey, what's going on? Is this going to affect us?' And they said 'Everything's fine,"' Wallace said.
NVE also markets a Stacker 2 without ephedra.
Wallace said he does not use Stacker 2 and that he does not need to boost his metabolism, having been diagnosed as hyperactive in the fifth grade.
NVE was Wallace's Busch sponsor and moved to Cup series with him this season.
"They have told me that racing has just put them to another level," he said. "The commercials we've done have been a lot of fun because people react to them. And our sport is about selling product."
Dr. Scott McNair, team physician for Hendrick Motorsports, said the effects of dehydration on drivers or crew members could be serious, but added, "I've never been aware of (ephedra use) being a very big problem."
McNair urged anyone in the sport using ephedra to stop.
"It would be beneficial in a sense to ban it," McNair said. "People don't understand the seriousness of the effects of drugs and ephedra is not a good drug."
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR is hiring an expert on the use and effects of dietary supplements that contain the stimulant ephedra.
"We're talking to an expert in that field," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said Wednesday. "It's not so much a health expert as it is a drug expert, although I hate to ever use the word drugs in relation to NASCAR."
Ephedra is banned in college athletics, the NFL, minor league baseball and the Olympics. It was partly to blame for the heatstroke death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler last month.
After Bechler's death, questions arose about the possible use of products for weight loss or extra energy by NASCAR drivers and crew members faced with a grueling 38-race schedule and heavy race-day pressure for quick pit stops and wins.
NASCAR does random drug tests, but ephedra is not among its banned substances.
"We read the papers and hear about things, too," said Hunter, adding the stock car sanctioning body began the process of hiring an outside expert within the past two weeks.
Al Shuford, head trainer for Chip Ganassi Racing, was quoted by USA Today as saying an estimated 80 percent of NASCAR's crew members have at least tried ephedra.
"I do not believe that number," Hunter said, pointing out that supplement manufacturer Stacker 2, sponsor of Kenny Wallace's Winston Cup car, handed out samples to the teams earlier this year.
Hunter said Winston Cup director John Darby and his staff are investigating to determine if anyone in the sport is using ephedra. He added that the investigation is also "a priority" for Gary Nelson, who heads NASCAR's new research and development facility.
"We want to find out who is using it and what they're using it for," Hunter said. He added that NASCAR is also talking with Bill Davis, who owns Wallace's car.
"We don't know a lot about this, yet, and we want to find out what we're dealing with before we react," Hunter said. "We don't even know if it's a problem for us or not."
Wallace went to NVE Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Stacker 2, after Bechler's death.
"I said, 'Hey, what's going on? Is this going to affect us?' And they said 'Everything's fine,"' Wallace said.
NVE also markets a Stacker 2 without ephedra.
Wallace said he does not use Stacker 2 and that he does not need to boost his metabolism, having been diagnosed as hyperactive in the fifth grade.
NVE was Wallace's Busch sponsor and moved to Cup series with him this season.
"They have told me that racing has just put them to another level," he said. "The commercials we've done have been a lot of fun because people react to them. And our sport is about selling product."
Dr. Scott McNair, team physician for Hendrick Motorsports, said the effects of dehydration on drivers or crew members could be serious, but added, "I've never been aware of (ephedra use) being a very big problem."
McNair urged anyone in the sport using ephedra to stop.
"It would be beneficial in a sense to ban it," McNair said. "People don't understand the seriousness of the effects of drugs and ephedra is not a good drug."
