Aaron Fike
Encyclopedia
Aaron Fike is a former NASCAR
and USAC
driver from Galesburg, Illinois
. Prior to a drug arrest, he was the driver of the #1 Toyota Tundra
Craftsman Truck Series truck.
He is the younger brother of former NASCAR driver A. J. Fike
.
record). He finished tenth in points, earning him the Rookie of the Year award.
In 2002, he won seven midget
feature races in addition to winning the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association
championship. http://www.bmara.com/points/champions.htm He also won a race in the IRL Infiniti Pro Series.
In 2003, Fike won the World Championship Midget Feature in Auckland, New Zealand, and the USAC Night Before the 500 race.
race at South Boston Speedway
, where he finished 9th.
He began racing part-time in the Busch Series in 2004 in the #43 Curb Agajanian Performance Group
car, and for GIC-Mixon Motorsports
. His best finish that year came at the Stacker 200 Presented by YJ Stinger, where he finished 17th.
For 2005, Fike signed a driver development contract with Brewco Motorsports
, and split time in their #66 Duraflame Ford Taurus
with Greg Biffle
. He recorded his first top-ten finish at the Salute to the Troops 250 Presented by Dodge, where he finished eighth. He also ran 17 races with the #43, his best finish in that car being a 14th at Homestead. At the end of the year, he was released from his contract at Brewco.
He started 2006 driving the #43 for Curb, but soon signed with Kevin Harvick Incorporated
for a limited schedule. He was released after two races.
Fike drove for Red Horse Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series
in 2007, where he had four top-ten finishes. He was arrested in the parking lot of Kings Island
in July 2007, and subsequently suspended by NASCAR and released from his contract.
On July 7, 2007, Fike and his long-time girlfriend and fiancee, Red Horse crew member Cassandra "Casi" Davidson, were arrested in the parking lot of Kings Island
.
According to press accounts, park security officers became suspicious when they saw Fike's truck had a towel draped over the front seat headrests, hiding the back seat of the truck. When officers asked Fike to get out, he climbed into the driver’s seat and tried to drive off, hitting an officer with the passenger side-view mirror. City of Mason police searched the truck, finding several syringes (including one with brown liquid inside), spoons with residue, alcohol swabs, phone cords, a cup with empty balloons, and a bloody napkin.
Fike admitted that the brown liquid was heroin, and Davidson stated that the heroin was used by both her and Fike. Davidson had a full syringe in her hand and was going to use heroin when the officers approached the vehicle.
Both were arrested on charges of possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia, and were arraigned a few days later.
On July 11, 2007 Fike (as well as Davidson) was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR
for violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2007 NASCAR Rule Book. Red Horse Racing released Fike from his contract the following day.
On August 29, the misdemeanor possession of drug abuse instruments charge was dropped by prosecutors.
Though he initially pleaded not guilty, in November 2007, Fike plead guilty to possession of a drug abuse instrument and a reduced charge of attempted possession of heroin, both misdemeanors. He admitted that he'd spent 4 months in treatment for the addiction, and publicly stated that the habit almost killed him at least once. He was sentenced to two years of probation after agreeing to establish a non-profit anti-drug group, Racing Against Drugs.
In an April 2008 interview for ESPN, Fike admitted to years of painkiller abuse, as well as heroin use on race days.
While there is precedent for drivers who struggle with substance abuse, there is no previous precedent for drivers who are arrested while using, or in possession of, an illegal substance. Fike has talked with NASCAR regarding the reinstatement process.
He returned to racing midget cars at Angell Park Speedway
and the USAC national tour after his NASCAR suspension.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
and USAC
United States Automobile Club
The United States Auto Club is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500...
driver from Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
. Prior to a drug arrest, he was the driver of the #1 Toyota Tundra
Toyota Tundra
The Toyota Tundra is a full-size pickup truck introduced by Toyota in the year 2000. It was widely considered to be the first full-size import-brand truck built with an American look and feel and a refined V8 engine. The Tundra was eventually nominated for the North American Truck of the Year...
Craftsman Truck Series truck.
He is the younger brother of former NASCAR driver A. J. Fike
A. J. Fike
A.J. Fike is an American racecar driver. He was born on December 29, 1980 and resides in Galesburg, Illinois. He is the older brother of NASCAR driver Aaron Fike. Fike won the 1999 United States Auto Club Midget Car rookie of the year title and his younger brother Aaron Fike won the award the...
.
USAC career
Fike began racing in 2001 in the USAC Silver Crown Series, where he became the youngest driver to win a Silver Crown race (breaking Jeff Gordon'sJeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
record). He finished tenth in points, earning him the Rookie of the Year award.
In 2002, he won seven midget
Midget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
feature races in addition to winning the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association
Angell Park Speedway
Angell Park Speedway has a 1/3 mile dirt racetrack located in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. The track has been run by the city's fire department since 1903. Racing occurs every Sunday approximately Memorial Day until Labor Day. Special racing events and the weather may alter the schedule...
championship. http://www.bmara.com/points/champions.htm He also won a race in the IRL Infiniti Pro Series.
In 2003, Fike won the World Championship Midget Feature in Auckland, New Zealand, and the USAC Night Before the 500 race.
NASCAR career
Fike made his stock car debut in an ARCA RE/MAX SeriesARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
race at South Boston Speedway
South Boston Speedway
South Boston Speedway or "SoBo" is a short track located just outside South Boston, Virginia, U.S.A.. SoBo is located approximately sixty miles east of another area familiar to most NASCAR fans, Martinsville. It is owned by Mattco, Inc, the Mattioli family trust that owns Pocono Raceway, with...
, where he finished 9th.
He began racing part-time in the Busch Series in 2004 in the #43 Curb Agajanian Performance Group
Curb Agajanian Performance Group
The Curb Agajanian Performance Group is a NASCAR Busch Series team. It is owned by record executive Mike Curb and racing personality Cary Agajanian. It has fielded the #43 entry for many years in the Busch Series.- NASCAR Winston Cup :...
car, and for GIC-Mixon Motorsports
GIC-Mixon Motorsports
GIC-Mixon Motorsports was a NASCAR team, owners of the #7 and the #24 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Busch Series. At the end of 2005, they began to run a part-time schedule. As they did not run in 2006, it is presumed that this team has sold off its equipment.....
. His best finish that year came at the Stacker 200 Presented by YJ Stinger, where he finished 17th.
For 2005, Fike signed a driver development contract with Brewco Motorsports
Brewco Motorsports
Baker Curb Racing, formerly known as Brewco Motorsports, is a racing team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, it is owned by Gary Baker, former owner of Bristol Motor Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway, and record executive Mike Curb...
, and split time in their #66 Duraflame Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
with Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle
Gregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...
. He recorded his first top-ten finish at the Salute to the Troops 250 Presented by Dodge, where he finished eighth. He also ran 17 races with the #43, his best finish in that car being a 14th at Homestead. At the end of the year, he was released from his contract at Brewco.
He started 2006 driving the #43 for Curb, but soon signed with Kevin Harvick Incorporated
Kevin Harvick Incorporated
Kevin Harvick Incorporated was a NASCAR team owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick and his wife DeLana, who herself is the daughter of a former Busch Series driver, John Linville...
for a limited schedule. He was released after two races.
Fike drove for Red Horse Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
in 2007, where he had four top-ten finishes. He was arrested in the parking lot of Kings Island
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
in July 2007, and subsequently suspended by NASCAR and released from his contract.
Substance Abuse Arrest
NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy allows NASCAR to administer drug tests virtually anytime, anywhere, based on "reasonable suspicion." Prior to Fike's arrest in 2007, he never tested positive for any banned substances.On July 7, 2007, Fike and his long-time girlfriend and fiancee, Red Horse crew member Cassandra "Casi" Davidson, were arrested in the parking lot of Kings Island
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
.
According to press accounts, park security officers became suspicious when they saw Fike's truck had a towel draped over the front seat headrests, hiding the back seat of the truck. When officers asked Fike to get out, he climbed into the driver’s seat and tried to drive off, hitting an officer with the passenger side-view mirror. City of Mason police searched the truck, finding several syringes (including one with brown liquid inside), spoons with residue, alcohol swabs, phone cords, a cup with empty balloons, and a bloody napkin.
Fike admitted that the brown liquid was heroin, and Davidson stated that the heroin was used by both her and Fike. Davidson had a full syringe in her hand and was going to use heroin when the officers approached the vehicle.
Both were arrested on charges of possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia, and were arraigned a few days later.
On July 11, 2007 Fike (as well as Davidson) was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
for violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2007 NASCAR Rule Book. Red Horse Racing released Fike from his contract the following day.
On August 29, the misdemeanor possession of drug abuse instruments charge was dropped by prosecutors.
Though he initially pleaded not guilty, in November 2007, Fike plead guilty to possession of a drug abuse instrument and a reduced charge of attempted possession of heroin, both misdemeanors. He admitted that he'd spent 4 months in treatment for the addiction, and publicly stated that the habit almost killed him at least once. He was sentenced to two years of probation after agreeing to establish a non-profit anti-drug group, Racing Against Drugs.
In an April 2008 interview for ESPN, Fike admitted to years of painkiller abuse, as well as heroin use on race days.
While there is precedent for drivers who struggle with substance abuse, there is no previous precedent for drivers who are arrested while using, or in possession of, an illegal substance. Fike has talked with NASCAR regarding the reinstatement process.
Angell Park Speedway
Angell Park Speedway has a 1/3 mile dirt racetrack located in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. The track has been run by the city's fire department since 1903. Racing occurs every Sunday approximately Memorial Day until Labor Day. Special racing events and the weather may alter the schedule...
and the USAC national tour after his NASCAR suspension.