(Sports Network) - NASCAR (web|news) will not penalize Ron Hornaday after the three-time Craftsman Truck Series champion admitted to using a prescribed testosterone cream for a serious medical condition. Hornaday revealed to ESPN The Magazine earlier this week he used the cream from December 2004 to January 2006 for an undiagnosed condition. He had been losing weight and suffered from the shakes before doctors diagnosed him with Graves' disease, a common form of hyperthyroidism, in March 2006. Hornaday has been treated with the prescribed medication Synthroid since then.

NASCAR officials met with Hornaday Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where the Truck Series is competing. Hornaday, the defending and only repeat winner at New Hampshire, has been cleared of any wrong-doing.

"It is over and done with, he is cleared to race," Jim Hunter, NASCAR's Vice President of Corporate Communications, said. "We don't see where Ron did anything wrong. Our substance policy is based on reasonable suspicion. If you talk to physicians, which I would encourage you to do, on a case-by-case basis, depending upon on what a persons condition is, then their prescriptions with all sorts of substances that are used for treatment, in some cases, those are acceptable. In Rons case, it was back in 04, 05, it is over."

Under NASCAR's current substance abuse policy, there are certain conditions which testosterone might be prescribed. NASCAR is expected to announce a revised substance-abuse policy in the coming weeks.

Hornaday, currently 94 points behind leader Johnny Benson in the championship standings, admits he has made a full recovery.

"When I came here with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. in 94 and 95, I weighed 200-205 pounds and that is where I sit right now," Hornaday said. "My belly might show it. I feel fine. I felt fine before. I started losing weight, and I got the shakes real bad. I felt fine then, other than just losing weight and getting the shakes. A little tiredness and stuff like that, but I mean, I am 50, I am going to be tired now, so it (doesn't) matter."

Hornaday has been with Kevin Harvick, Inc. since 2005 and won his third truck championship last year. After being misdiagnosed twice, team owner Kevin Harvick recommended Hornaday see another doctor.

"From a friend stand point, when you see Rons health start to deteriorate, it is not about driving," Harvick said. "This whole situation is not driving; this is about somebodys personal health. Ron went to the extent of trying to make his life better, trying to make his health better. When he went to the extremes of being misdiagnosed twice, after the California race, I pretty much told him that is it. You are done until you figure out what is wrong."

Hornaday won his first two titles in 1996 and '98. He also holds the series record for most career wins with 37. Hornaday won last Saturday's race at St. Louis.

























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