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Derek White indefinitely suspended by NASCAR

Nick Bromberg
·College football and motorsports writer

Xfinity Series driver Derek White has been indefinitely suspended by NASCAR following his arrest in connection with a tobacco smuggling ring.

White turned himself into authorities last week as part of what Canadian police termed the largest tobacco smuggling bust in North American history. Authorities had said 52,800 kilograms of tobacco, 836 kilograms of cocaine, 21 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 35 pounds of pot were seized as part of the bust and that White was a high-ranking member in the ring.

Here's a summary of his charges from NASCAR Talk:

  • Three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud against the government.

  • Three counts of fraud toward the government.

  • One count of profiteering as a criminal organization.

News of White's suspension came down as part of NASCAR's penalty report Monday afternoon. White has 22 career Xfinity Series starts and made a Sprint Cup Series start in 2015.

According to APTN, documents show White has been under police surveillance since 2006. The site also reported he was ID'd but never charged in a marijuana smuggling investigation in 2008 and he was the No. 3 ranking member in the "Projet Mygale" organization chart.

APTN also cited a quote White gave to Eastern Door newspaper in which he said all of his charges were tobacco-related and also said he had no affiliation with ISIS. Glad we cleared that up.

“All it has to do with is with tobacco, it has nothing to do with any of the other stuff they’re making up,” White told the Eastern Door. “I have nothing to do with drugs, or ISIS or terrorism…I have nothing to do with that shit, absolutely zero. They want their tax money, that’s all.”

White told the Eastern Door he posted $20,000 bail. He also told the Eastern Door he knows only one other person in the organizational chart released by the SQ, Paul Jean.

White has made one Xfinity Series start this season; it was a 36th-place finish at Las Vegas. He's been listed as his own car owner according to Racing Reference since the beginning of the 2015 season. His highest finish (and only top 20) came in his first career Xfinity Series start when he finished 18th at Montreal.

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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!