Over the course of the NHRA U.S. Nationals weekend, the Pro Stock Motorcycle class has been in the spotlight far more than usual.

That’s namely a result of Matt Guidera being suspended for a year by the NHRA for failing to meet the requirements of the Substance Abuse Policy. Guidera actually has the ability to request for a stay, if NHRA grants the stay, he's allowed to compete until such time as his appeal is heard.

Steve Johnson, a fellow Pro Stock Motorcycle racer, said he understood Guidera’s plight.

“The guy's trying to race at the US Nationals, he's got a business to help run, he's just had a three week old baby, he's trying to figure out how to get his baby back cause they can't fly the baby,” Johnson said. “In my little world, I'm trying to help with public relations and marketing, trying to ride the bike, trying to review with the crew chief, and still train to be a driver and a team owner. So there's a lot of stuff. That's what makes it tough. But I understand the process.”

Over the course of the NHRA U.S. Nationals weekend, the Pro Stock Motorcycle class has been in the spotlight far more than usual.

That’s namely a result of Matt Guidera being suspended for a year by the NHRA for failing to meet the requirements of the Substance Abuse Policy. Guidera actually has the ability to request for a stay, if NHRA grants the stay, he's allowed to compete until such time as his appeal is heard.

Steve Johnson, a fellow Pro Stock Motorcycle racer, said he understood Guidera’s plight.

“The guy's trying to race at the US Nationals, he's got a business to help run, he's just had a three week old baby, he's trying to figure out how to get his baby back cause they can't fly the baby,” Johnson said. “In my little world, I'm trying to help with public relations and marketing, trying to ride the bike, trying to review with the crew chief, and still train to be a driver and a team owner. So there's a lot of stuff. That's what makes it tough. But I understand the process.”

 According to the NHRA, Guidera will remain No. 7 in the points and qualify for the Countdown to 1. Guidera, however, can’t compete in any races until until he is either granted a stay or wins his appeal, if he files one. he has an appeal granted by the NHRA to return. If Guidera isn’t granted an appeal, no one will replace him in the Countdown. He will just finish 10th in the points.

“Well, us not being in the countdown is our own fault,” Johnson said.

Outside of the inconvenience of testing, is there anything complicated about it, anything that could be misinterpreted about 24 hours?

“I think that's the biggest problem for me,” Johnson said. “I'm a team owner, I'm working the public relations, the marketing side; and also I'm the rider. So I just have...I feel like I just have a lot on my shoulders every day and when you throw that in there, you know it's just a hardship. But, you know...I mean you look at I go to schools all the time and they've got metal detectors when you walk in and there's some kind of drug testing. So it's a part of reality. And everybody knows it.”

If Guidera does remain suspended for a year, it brings up several questions that Johnson would like answered.

“Well, I guess I'd start backtracking, you know,” Johnson said. “Does the money go to him? You know, if he's gonna to keep the points then they need to pay him his money because he's gonna be No. 10. Like anybody, I'd like to see what the rules are completely, and understand that if he does get his points, he gets the check and it would start shutting more doors. If there was a thought that he didn't get his points or he didn't get his money, then I would start looking at other avenues and how all of that creates what the sanctioning body wants to do for the fan. And that's provide and entertain the crowd.”
 

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