WALLKILL, N.Y. – NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series driver Tyler Dippel and Young’s Motorsports officials confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the charges against Dippel following his Aug. 18 arrest in New York state have been dropped.
The decision was also confirmed by Christopher Borek, the chief assistant district attorney of Orange County, according to NBC Sports.
Dippel released his first statement since the news broke on Aug. 23 that he had been indefinitely suspended by NASCAR under the sanctioning body’s code of conduct clause.
Additional details were revealed on Monday that Dippel’s suspension was the result of a traffic stop in Dippel’s hometown of Wallkill, N.Y. – where he was pulled over for traveling in excess of 80 mph – that ultimately led to a search of his vehicle, subsequent arrest and charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.
Dippel offered an apology on Wednesday and recounted the entire sequence of events publicly for the first time.
“I would like to start by apologizing to my fans, Young’s Motorsports, NASCAR, Gander Outdoors, our partners, and my family and friends for the grief this situation has caused. Due to an ongoing investigation we have not been able to speak on the topic until today,” wrote Dippel in his prepared statement. “On Aug. 18, while driving home from the Orange County Fair Speedway, I was pulled over for changing lanes without (a) proper signal. The trooper asked my passenger and myself if we had been using drugs and we responded with “no” – because we hadn’t. The trooper continued to question us and then asked to search the vehicle, [and] I gave him my consent, as I had nothing to hide.
“In the back of my truck was a friend’s backpack, who was not with us, containing his prescription medication. Because it was in my vehicle, I was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance,” Dippel continued. “Upon my appearance ticket, I contacted NASCAR within hours to inform them of the situation. Due to the NASCAR rule book and code of conduct, they ruled to suspend me indefinitely. I respect their decision.
“Early this morning, at the Town of Wallkill Court, the charges against me in this case were dismissed. We presented proof that the prescription was not mine, and the person that the prescription belonged to accepted responsibility for leaving them in my vehicle. I, along with my team, will work closely with NASCAR to hopefully be reinstated, so I can be back in the Young’s Motorsports No. 02 Chevrolet. I take full responsibility for my actions.”
Dippel has competed in all but one of the 18 completed Truck Series events this season, with a best finish of third at Michigan Int’l Speedway on Aug. 10 during the regular season finale.
He missed the playoffs and currently sits 13th in Truck Series points, after being replaced by D.J. Kennington for Sunday’s race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park due to his suspension.
A NASCAR spokesperson confirmed Wednesday night that Dippel has been reinstated and will be eligible to return at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway on Sept. 13, the next race on the Truck Series schedule.