LEBANON — By day, IHRA powerhouse Ron Miller was sober.

        At night, the 53-year-old race car driver from Lebanon took illegally obtained narcotics to ease the pain from a back injury, his lawyer said.

        Mr. Miller — fifth so far this year in International Hot Rod Association national Pro Stock rankings — was in court in his hometown Tuesday, accused of doctor shopping to acquire prescriptions for the painkiller Darvon and hydrocodone cough syrup.

        IHRA officials were unsure if he would be allowed to race.

        “It was a major screw-up,” said Mr. Miller, minutes after a common pleas judge said he might allow the driver to receive drug treatment in lieu of a conviction on two felony charges of deception to obtain dangerous drugs.

        “I did some stupid things with some prescription drugs,” Mr. Miller said, adding that the painkillers were mild. He said never before had he even smoked or drank, and that he is no longer taking the narcotics.

        Judge P. Daniel Fedders ordered Mr. Miller to be assessed to determine if he is eligible for substance abuse treatment and a probationary program that could make the charges go away.

        Mr. Miller is expected to return to court in about a month to learn whether he qualifies. If Judge Fedders allows it, Mr. Miller will enter guilty pleas next month.

        Any further court action would be postponed to see if Mr. Miller completes treatment and probation. If he succeeds, the charges will be dropped, Prosecutor Tim Oliver said.

        If not, the judge will convict Mr. Miller and can send him to prison for up to two years.

        John Burke, head of the Warren County Drug Task Force, said detectives determined that Mr. Miller had obtained prescriptions from four different doctors.

        “He never has driven under the influence of drugs,” said Mr. Miller's lawyer, Tim Tepe. “Basically, he got impatient and was doctor shopping in filling the prescriptions.”

        Mr. Miller told investigators that he used the drugs to numb back pain from a motorcycle accident 12 years ago.

        IHRA officials were undecided Tuesday if Mr. Miller's legal troubles would affect his ability to race. Spokesman Jim Marchyshyn said the organization was unaware of the drug case against Mr. Miller until The Cincinnati Enquirer asked about it.

        “It's the first time we've ever had an issue like this,” Mr. Marchyshyn said.

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