Tyler Walker (NASCAR)

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Tyler Walker

Born:	July 15, 1979 (1979-07-15) (age 28)
Birthplace:	Los Angeles, California
Achievements:	—
Awards:	1992-1996 California State Go-Kart Champion 1996 Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year 1997 All-Star Circuit of Champions Rookie of the Year 2002 World of Outlaws Gumout Series Champion 2004 USAC Silver Crown Series Most Improved Driver
NASCAR Nationwide Series Statistics
First Race:	2004 Goulds Pumps/ITT Industries 250 (Pikes Peak)
Last Race:	2005 Zippo 200 (Watkins Glen)
Wins	Top Tens	Poles
0	0	0
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Statistics
First Race:	2003 Virginia Is For Lovers 200 (Richmond)
Last Race:	2007 Quaker Steak & Lube 200 (Lowe's)
Wins	Top Tens	Poles
0	1	0
Statistics current as of April 1, 2007.

Tyler Walker (born July 15, 1979 (1979-07-15) (age 28) in Los Angeles, California), is a NASCAR driver. He is currently not active, having been suspended fron NASCAR indefinitely for violating its substance abuse policy.

Walker began racing bicycles at the age of six and motorcycles at age eight. He then began racing go-karts, and won four California state karting championships and had a total of 200 wins. At the age of sixteen Walker started racing in the All Star Circuit of Champions sprint car series and won seven races throughout the season. He moved up to World of Outlaws competition and won several main feature events over the next two seasons. He was hired to drive a NASCAR Busch Series car for the 2000 season with Tyler Jet Motorsports, but sponsorship problems caused the deal to fall through. Walker would attempt his first Busch race that season for Larry Lockamy at Nashville Speedway USA that season, but did not qualify.

In 2002 Walker won the World of Outlaws Gumout Series championship, winning a total of sixteen races during the season. During this time, he began celebrating his victories by doing a backflip off of his racecar, a celebration soon copied by Carl Edwards.^[1] He began racing in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2003, racing 3 races in the #7 Mopar Performance Dodge Ram for Ultra Motorsports, his best finish a 21st at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In 2004 he began racing in the USAC Silver Crown Series for Kasey Kahne Racing, while competing three times in the Busch Series. He made his series debut at Pikes Peak, qualifying eighth and finishing 27th. After driving one race for BACE Motorsports, he drove another Busch race in the #38 Great Clips Dodge for Akins Motorsports. In 2005, he began racing part-time for the team, but after a lack of top tens, Walker was released from the team.

In 2007, Walker was slated to drive the #36 truck for Bill Davis Racing full time, but after 6 races it was announced that Ryan Mathews would drive part time sharing the ride with him.

On May 18 Walker failed a drug test and was suspended from NASCAR, and was soon released from Davis Racing.

[edit] Substance Abuse Test

Following the May 18 race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Walker failed a random drug test administered by NASCAR. On May 30, 2007 Walker was cited by the sanctioning body for "actions detrimental to stock car racing" and put on "indefinite suspension." NASCAR did not release additional details. NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy allows NASCAR to administer drug tests virtually anytime, anywhere, based only on "reasonable suspicion." There is no driver's union to prevent such tests.

In comparable situations, drivers such as Shane Hmiel have been allowed to petition NASCAR for reinstatement. To date, Hmiel and Kevin Grubb have been reinstated, but both have subsequently re-violated the substance abuse policy.

[edit] Sprint car comeback

In late 2007 Walker re-surfaced on the racing scene driving a 360 CI winged sprint car at the Short Track Nationals in Little Rock, AR, where he failed to advance to the feature. On November 8 competed in the new Silver Crown series race at Phoenix International Raceway, finishing 18th. On November 17, 2007, while competing in another 360 winged sprint car in the Trophy Cup at Tulare, Ca, Walker was involved in a three car crash and suffered a broken right arm.

In March 2008 finished 9th in the Meyers Wins Cactus Classic at Manzanita Speedway.^[2] He also won a heat race in the Mini Gold Cup at the Silver Dollar Speedway.^[3]

Currently competes on the California sprint car series 'Golden State Challenge'. Walker won his first race, A-Main Feature, on Saturday, April 5th at Atioch Speedway. He remarked, "I want to say sorry to all of the NASCAR fans whom won't ever see me there again. I love dirt and am glad to be back on it."^{[citation needed]}

[edit] References