Nascar and ADHD
ByNascar driver Jeremy Mayfield has shared that he has ADHD, and takes the medication Adderall for it.
This disclosure has come in a ’roundabout’ way. This relates to the reports that Mr. Mayfield was suspended from driving due to finding amphetamines in his urine during a random urine drug screen. Mr. Mayfield has explained that he takes Adderall medication for ADHD, as well as Claritin D. This issue is before the courts. You can read the news updates here.
While Mr. Mayfield is going through a rough time right now, I am happy to hear that he has openly disclosed his diagnosis of ADHD. This can lead to advocacy and support for the many kids diagnosed with ADD or ADHD each year.
I do wonder how many of the Nascar drivers have ADD or ADHD?
Although there is research which shows that people with untreated ADHD are at risk of more accidents while driving, my clinical experience in ADHD suggests that people with ADHD often excel at ‘extreme sports’. Whereas driving to the store at 40 miles per hour may be boring, driving on a Nascar track at speeds in excess of 200 mph can be exciting and can command one’s attention. And as Mr. Mayfield explains – he is taking an ADHD medication while driving.
I do hope that things work out well for Mr. Mayfield, and that he uses this situation as a springboard for advocacy for ADD/ADHD. I hope that he can be a role model for the thousands of boys (And girls!) diagnosed with ADD and ADHD each year.
What are your thoughts and experiences? Please share them below.
Best,
Dr. Kenny
Thank God someone is finally listening. As a fan of NASCAR for the last 20 years that has ADD I was appalled that this driver was suspended for using and ADHD drug!
I too hope that this case can be used to promote people seeking treatment for ADHD and those that have been diagnosed to keep taking their meds on a regular basis.
To answer the good doctors question…I can name with utmost certainty at least 6 drivers that are in the race cars today have ADD or ADHD! I would love to share them privately with the doctor.
I have long held that people with ADD and ADHD, a condition closely related to many addictive disorders, are probably also more likely to engage in other risky behaviors that are more socially acceptable, like X sports.
Great post!
A couple of questions:
1) Would this be considered a “performance enhancing” medication in NASCAR? Other sports?
2) The lawsuit is messy and the testing lab did both the “A” and “B” samples.
My opinion is that ADHD medications are not performance enhancing if you don’t have ADHD. They may increase alertness, and may cause insomnia (so that people can stay awake longer), but the biggest impact on the concentration comes from people who have ADHD.
I don’t really have real facts as to what was found on the testing, so I can’t really do more than report what was reported in the press.
I was excited to see that he has come forward with his ADHD (even if it wasn’t completely intentional).
Best,
Dr. Kenny
I would LOVE to know the answer! My son has ADHD and he is rising up the ranks in racing. I always wondered if the ADHD helped him – might his brain be processing what’s going on at higher speeds quicker than the non-ADHD person?
Leigh Ann – your son’s brain is stimulated by racing.
CR – what do you mean?
I guess what I’m pondering is, does the ADHD make him a better racer than others?
I had an accident, my fault, at 2-3 mph. I was tired of waiting in the line at the post office. When I was driving home all the cars stopped at the light, including me. When the guy moved up a bit I did too but when he stopped I didn’t.
Hello!! So glad to finally find some interest in this subject! I am an ADHD female living with my ADHD boyfriend, who enjoys all extreme sports including car racing! So I have the pleasure to join him at many car racing events held in NJ, Maryland, Illinois, and many other states!! I am also studying to be a Psychotherapist, and one research paper I want to pursue is testing the hypothesis on “How many race car drivers have diagnosed ADHD or perhaps Adhd type tendencies.. I want to have the actual racers partake in my study during different racing events that I visit!! This would be a most awesome discovery!! The only issue I see with ascertaining accurate results would be whether or not the particular racer would disclose his formal diagnosis of ADHD.. Any suggestions on how I should go about this DR Kenny??
It also appears that my boyfriend and his fellow racers seem to hyperfocus on getting their cars to run at the best speed possible along with studying their reaction times etc, trying to extrapulate all variables that could affect their performance so they can do econsistently well on the track… Well, this type of ADHD mind has helped them from doing the best as compared to their fellow peers, that do not “think outside the box” or hyperfocus, so then the next question of study would be, out of that population of ADHD racers, how many are always in the top 10% as winners due to their ADHD and the gifts that come with it!!! Cool? Right?? I need some help dwith angles so I can do an accurate study on these guys, any ideas??? thanks, Lisa
Hi its me Lisa again, Notice in my reply I put “helps them from doing their best”..What I meant to say is that ADHD helps them to DO their best, because of their ability to “think outside the box and hyperfocus” in comparison to perhaps their non-adhd, racing peers… So I would think its interesting to compare out of the population of racers that do have ADHD, are they the ones that make up the highest percentage of racers that win their races?? as compared to their non adhd peers??? Hmmmmm yes only a fellow adhd-er would think of how to tackle this challege!! lol my boyfriend suggested I try to do a study on this… Due to all the variables, I need some help on how to do both parts of this study, since I do have access to these car racers!! yay..
Lisa