NASCAR's Allmendinger blames Adderall for suspension

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger said the prescription drug Adderall is what led to his suspension.

In an interview with Eyewitness News reporter Alan Cavanna, Allmendinger said he took the pill without knowing what it was.

"It was just a huge, bad judgment," he said. "And I'm paying for it."

Allmendinger does not have a prescription for Adderall. He said he took the pill last month a few days before the race in Kentucky.

Feeling "stressed," Allmendinger said a friend-of-a-friend offered him what he believed to be an energy supplement.

After the Kentucky race, NASCAR randomly tested the driver for banned substances.

Days later, the test came back as positive for amphetamines.

"I know people are going to be like, 'That is the dumbest thing to ever do is take something you don't know exactly what it is,'" Allmendinger said. "And I agree with them."

Since his suspension, Allmendinger has enrolled in NASCAR's Road to Recovery program.

The program is tailored to each driver's situation.

"It's more about dealing with stress management, because I haven't done that well the last few years," he said.

Allmendinger said he should complete the Road to Recovery by the end of the month.

It will then be up to NASCAR and its doctors whether to reinstate him.