NASCAR driver -- Aaron Fike -- fired up on heroin before he fired up his ride

Aaron Fike from Galesburg Ill, admitted he shot up heroin before he went out racing.  That ain't bumping that's racing according to ESPN:

Suspended NASCAR driver Aaron Fike now admits that he not only secretly struggled with drug addiction for years but also shot up heroin on some race days.

In his first in-depth interview since being arrested for heroin possession last summer, the 25-year-old said he had been using heroin for eight months and suffered from a dependency on painkillers for six years before that. In the weeks prior to his arrest, his once-a-week experiment with heroin had become a daily routine, including the days he was competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

NASCAR officials, when informed of Fike's admission, said the league has kept an eye on the more proactive random drug testing policies recently ramped up by the "Big Four" major league sports but point to the list of recent suspensions as proof that the current policy is working.

More bloody syringes and such:

On July 7, 2007, Fike and fiancée Cassandra Davidson were arrested in the parking lot of Kings Island amusement park outside of Cincinnati. Security guards knocked on the window of Fike's Toyota SUV after realizing that a black sheet was preventing anyone from seeing into the back seat. At first the couple attempted to flee, but a search of the vehicle turned up a haul of drug paraphernalia, including a 100-count box of syringes, bloody napkins and black tar heroin.

Fans may be surprised that narcotics are considered PEDs:

Narcotic analgesics mainly function as painkillers but also may produce euphoria or psychological stimulation, false feelings of invincibility, and illusions of physical prowess. These drugs also increase the pain threshold, which can cause greater injury because an athlete may not be aware of the original injury. Use of narcotics can also lead to physical dependence. Narcotic analgesics include Demerol, Dilaudid, Percodan, and Vicodin.

Physical dependence ensues, like compelled to shoot up in the parking lot before a dangerous race.  Thank goodness Fike ascertained treatment for narcotics dependence. (thanks to Sal for the tip)