Fike takes plea bargain in heroin case

NASCAR driver Aaron Fike was sentenced this week in Cincinnati to two years' probation after his lawyer and a Warren County prosecutor agreed to reduce a felony charge for heroin possession to a misdemeanor.

Fike, 25, spent four days in jail following his July 7 arrest before entering a drug treatment center.

The judge accepted Fike's proposal to avoid further jail time by going to schools and racetracks to deliver an anti-drug message. But Fike might find it harder to convince NASCAR to lift his suspension.

Fike was eighth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings when he was arrested while shooting up heroin with his fiancee in a parking lot at Kings Island amusement park near Cincinnati.

"One day, I was a NASCAR race-car driver, with people asking me for my autograph, and the next day I was in handcuffs, lying on the floor of a jail cell, going through the absolute agony of heroin withdrawal," Fike wrote in the proposal the judge accepted Nov. 6.

"I'm just grateful to be sober and to be alive," he told The Associated Press.

• SPEEDWAY HONOR -- Dr. Dale Carrison, chairman of emergency services at University Medical Center and medical director at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, will be honored Jan. 28 at the third annual Mel Larson Night of Champions at Bally's.

NASCAR driver Kyle Petty will be the featured speaker.

The event recognizes individuals who have made contributions to the community and motor sports. Previous honorees are Larson and NHRA team owner Ken Black.

Proceeds benefit the Las Vegas chapter of Speedway Children's Charities. Call 644-4444 for information.

• TRACK CLOSURE -- Pahrump Valley Speedway will hold its last event Dec. 8. The 22-year-old dirt track will be razed and developed for other uses.

• DRAG RACING -- The final drag racing event of the year at LVMS is tonight's Midnight Mayhem. The street-legal drag racing program runs from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. ...

Kyle Seipel of San Leandro, Calif., was the big winner during last week's four-day Bracket Nationals at the speedway's dragstrip. The veteran racer won $45,000 in the Ultimate Gambler when he beat Pete Biondo of Maspeth, N.Y., another national touring racer.

Other $5,000 daily winners were Dean Hall of Guerneville, Calif.; NHRA Funny Car driver Jack Beckman of North Hills, Calif.; Joseph Landavazo of Peoria, Ariz.; and Ryan Priddy of Chino, Calif.

• BANQUET NEWS -- The NASCAR Nextel Cup banquet tonight at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City will be broadcast on ESPN Classic (Digital 322) at 6 p.m. and re-aired at 9 on ESPN2 (Cable 31).

Sirius and XM satellite radio will air several hours from the festivities today. ...

The NASCAR Busch Series banquet is Dec. 7 in Orlando, Fla. It will be televised Dec. 11 on ESPN2. ...

The Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring's NASCAR All-American Series banquet is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Sam's Town. Tickets can be ordered by calling 632-8025. ...

The SCORE Desert Series banquet is Dec. 8 at Whiskey Pete's in Primm. For ticket information, go to score-international.com.

• QUARTER MIDGETS -- More than 200 drivers ages 5 to 16 will compete today through Sunday in the Quarter Midget Racing Association's 12th annual Silver State Winternationals at Buffalo Bill's in Primm.

• DESERT RACE -- The Best in the Desert racing series finale is Saturday with the sixth annual Henderson's Terrible 400.

Technical inspection, car displays and a concert will take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Water Street District in Henderson.

Racing will be in the Eldorado Valley Dry Lake area near state Route 95, about three miles from the Railroad Pass exit.

Go to HendersonLive.com for information.