CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR Winston West Series driver and Busch Series driver Sammy Potashnick, who was arrested earlier this month in Daytona Beach on a felony charge of possession of crack cocaine, is disputing reports that the cocaine belonged to him.

Cocaine was allegedly found in a cigarette box in Potashnick's rental car. Potashnick alleges that the car had been used by several different people during Speedweeks and that the car rental agency had apologized at the time of the rental for not cleaning out the car.

Previous reports stated that the 27-year-old driver from Sikeston, Mo., was driving on the wrong side of the road after 4:30 a.m. when a patrol car spotted him and had to swerve to avoid a crash, according to a sheriff's incident report.

The sheriff's deputy pulled Potashnick over and found crack cocaine hidden inside a pack of cigarettes in the car and four hydrocodone pills in Potashnick's pockets, the report states.

In a statement released by his team, Potashnick says he had pulled his car over to the side of the road after making a wrong turn. A policeman approached him and asked if there were any drugs or alcohol in the car. Potashnick says he informed the officer of prescribed pain medication in his pocket and was subsequently cited for having medication outside of the prescribed container. Potashnick did later provide proof that the medication was prescribed to him.

Police reports stated that Potashnick told a deputy that he had bought crack cocaine from a man in a Daytona Beach bar, and that it was his first time buying the drug.

Potashnick disputes reports that he had any knowledge of the cocaine in the car and also denies being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident. He says he has tested negative for all drugs on several occasions since the incident. The statement says that any full-time employee who is hired at Potashnick's SP Racing., Inc. signs a written agreement stating that drug use is not tolerated and that drug testing may be randomly administered at any time, and that Potashnick follows the same standards for himself.

The statement says that Potashnick will continue to make preparations for a transition to the NASCAR Busch Series later in the 2002 season and that new team owner Jay Robinson stands behind Potashnick 100-percent and looks forward to the time when Potashnick will in fact drive the 49 car in the Busch series.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.