Jeremy Mayfield a No-Show at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Jeremy Mayfield did not bring his race team to Daytona International Speedway Thursday, despite getting the go-ahead from the U.S. District Court in Charlotte on Wednesday.

Mayfield, an owner-driver in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR on May 9 after allegedly testing positive for methamphetamine on May 1. He has repeatedly denied that he took the illegal drugs, insisting the test was a false positive -- the result of mixing a prescription drug and a common allergy medication.

Mayfield has sued NASCAR over the test results, and Wednesday U.S. District Judge Graham Mullen ruled he could compete until his trial, saying the damage to Mayfield's reputation and career exceeded the potential damage done to NASCAR.

More Coverage: Drivers Welcome Stricter Testing

Mayfield had until 3 p.m. ET on Thursday to officially enter his team for Saturday night's Coke Zero 400, but he did not show up at the speedway. NASCAR official John Darby was posted by the garage entrance checking his watch.

A pair of team owners reportedly rebuffed Mayfield's offers to drive for them, so it remains unclear if Mayfield is planning on competing any time soon. He could potentially still show up this weekend and drive for another team.

Because of the suspension and ensuing negative publicity, Mayfield's own single-car team has struggled securing financial backing and sponsorship, forcing him to lay off at least 10 crew members. Even before the suspension, Mayfield had qualified for only five of the first 11 races.

Drivers in the garage had mixed reaction about sharing the race track with Mayfield. Most weren't ready to concede NASCAR's point even if the judge gave Mayfield a reprieve. According to court documents, both Mayfield's primary and second samples tested positive for methamphetamine.

"The judge didn't say the result [of the drug test] is wrong, he said it can be questioned,'' said veteran driver Jeff Burton.

"If and when he comes back, NASCAR has every right to test him as many times as they want to. The only problem is, it's not an instant test.

"From Jeremy's perspective, if the judge ruled it can be questioned, it should be questioned. ... But he's [the judge] potentially putting my safety in question.""I have no idea how Jeremy got out of this one, but he did."
-- Kasey Kahne

Like many competitors, Kasey Kahne, Mayfield's former teammate at Evernham Motorsports, had particularly strong feelings about the situation on Thursday prior to practice for Saturday's race. Few were willing to give Mayfield "the benefit of the doubt."

"I'm not concerned about my safety. More than anything, I wonder how this happens and how he get backs back on track after it,'' Kahne said. "Everybody out here wants to race and they want to race hard and race people that are in the same state of mind that you're in. If people are into other things, they should go do those things by themselves and not be on a race track going 200 mph with other racers.''

"I have no idea how Jeremy got out of this one, but he did.

"As far as racing with Jeremy, I don't ever race with him. He's usually at one end of the track and I'm at the other.''

Driver Ryan Newman was similarly concerned about the potential of going door-to-door with Mayfield or anyone who has tested positive for drug use.

"The situation we had when someone tests positive is something to be seriously considered and when you release someone to go back and do that without clarifying everything, that's not cool,'' driver Ryan Newman said.

"People make mistakes. I just hope the judge didn't make a mistake.''

NASCAR Chairman Brian France is scheduled for a "mid-season update" press conference on Friday and will address the issue.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-02-2009 @ 7:27PM

obamaizamarxist said...

Jeremy looks rough. Racing in the last thing that boy needs now, somebody get his pale ass into rehab..

7-03-2009 @ 12:25AM

nzcr14 said...

PALE AND WHITE FACED TOO.
I know that pot and ash smokers skins does turn whitesh after few joints. Seems like that METHS does the same effect. the face always whitens first.The experts are welcomed to correct me on the meths white face issue if i'm wrong.
BTW;i like the new label better OSAMADOPED.

7-03-2009 @ 2:27PM

Brad said...

Damn Holly,

If 'few' were giving JM the benefit of the doubt it would be nice to hear their point of view also.

And come on Anna with comments like that Nascar doesn't need a testing policy just more pictures so people can tell us what drugs there using, LOL

7-03-2009 @ 2:43PM

WELL BRAD.........AT TIMES A PICTURE IS WORTH A 1000
WORDS. Have ya ever heard that one yet?lol,
works for me...

7-04-2009 @ 2:36PM

kindatuchy said...

Yeah Anna I have, but where were those 1000 words when this picture was taken. The photo is obviously a file photo of when JM was still racing and nobody was talking of any Drug use then, not until the "MASSIVE AMOUNTS" were found. LOL....How about this one 'Innocent until proven guilty'

7-04-2009 @ 8:01AM

illsell4u said...

I understand why the drivers would be very cautious about racing with Mayfield on the same track but without due process think of where we all would be. China? USSR? and Anna'a fav Nazi Germany.
Nascar has totally ruined this guys career forever. He deserves the chance in court to prove whether or not Nascar screwed him. If Nascar wins this guy is toast but even if Mayfield wins he is tarnished goods. Who is going to sponsor him?
While the thought of a driver using meth may sound awful the thought that Nascar can totally destroy someone's career with this is sobering to say the least. What if this had been Jr, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson? Would Nascar have reacted the same way? And the fact that they are now conducting the tests in a much stricter environment tells me there were certainly chances for error. This is not some high school baseball team here where you test positive you are off the team. This is Nascar Sprint Cup. Millions and millions of dollars are at stake here. Doesn't every driver and crew member out there deserve to know?
There are lots of questions to be answered. For one, Mayfield claims a false positive due to a mix of other meds he was taking. If by some miracle what he is saying is true does that mean what was going on inside his body was the same as if he were taking meth? And two, do you really want a driver driving next to you that is taking meds for ADHD in the first place? If I were on the same track I would not want to worry what the guy next to me was thinking about as we were entering turn three. I would want to know that he was 100% focused on the job at hand and not what was for dinner tonight.
mbl

7-04-2009 @ 10:28AM

Kim said...

Mike,

I get where you are coming from with your argument to a degree. I understand that many think Mayfield's career and reputation have been ruined, but I can't help but think of the seriousness of the testing results. If he was on enough medications, mixed or not, that caused a drug test to turn up positive for meth, then Jeremy was impaired, period! Meth has serious side effects and any amount of other medications mixed together to cause a positive for meth, leave me to believe that they too have very serious side effects.

If it was my husband, friend, neighbor, son, even my favorite driver that had to drive on a track with Mayfield, I would not be pleased at all. First of all, I am not buying the "false positive" talk. Secondly, the guy looks ill to me! I have worked with people who have been on drugs as well as who have been in treatment centers to get off them. Jeremy reminds me of some I treated and worked with. He's got a "look" about him. The gaunt, pale face as well as some other features, too.

As far as ADHD medications, this is where I disagree with you. It depends on the person. For instance, both of my boys are ADHD. I tried to medicate them both as that's what the doctors told me was best. With the oldest, the medications seemed to calm him and help him focus, but the side effects were horrible. He got terrible headaches and upset stomachs. With my middle son, he bacame a shell of a person, a lot like a zombie! It was awful! Needless to say, neither one is on any medications for ADHD anymore, much to their teachers and doctors dismay. But they are my children and I am doing what I feel is best for their long-term health. I keep them very active in sports and other extra-curricular activities to help them focus the natural way! :-)

Now, I have talked to Mothers of children that said being on ADHD medications "cured" their child and made them focus. So perhaps it depends on the person?

Kim

7-05-2009 @ 11:21AM

hillbilly said...

it must be nice to be so smart about all of mayfild,s meds sounds like must have done your part of them if you dumb axx would look back how many other drivers has he hurt it is easy to kick people when they are down let,s prove he has done any thing wrong befor we hang him

7-04-2009 @ 9:48AM

with58 said...

I am for the testing but NASCAR'S methods were flimsy at best. If there going to do the tests then it should be as professional as the drivers. In America one is not guilty until proven so in a court of law.JM has been chastised by NASCAR based on a slipshod careless test procedure and they should be held liable for damages done to JM if proven in the courts to be innocent of the charges. The bad thing is it has been made so public if proven NOT GUILTY JM still will pay the price as his character has been damaged

7-04-2009 @ 10:17AM

Has anyone thought that maybe Mayfield simply has no intention of ever racing again? His being a "no show" at Daytona after declaring that the court make a decision as it was an "emergency" for him to be able to make Daytona this weekend, really makes me wonder what his true intentions are. Personally I do not think he has any intention of ever racing again. I think he is going to fight in court for a settlement that he can live comfortably on for the rest of his life. Lord knows he wasn't going to make that kind of money racing! (Sorry to sound cruel, but it's not like the guy is a top tier racer, folks!)

Kim

7-04-2009 @ 2:50PM

Hey Kim,,,,

Are you really going to condemn Jm based on a 'look about him'? Well it sure sounds like it since the false positive talk isn't possible,,,,right. That's like saying that if JJ looks gay, then he must be,,,,which is baloney by the way. I just don't believe in finding anyone guilty until all the evidence is in, and I don't think JM would put up this kind of money to fight Nascar when he can't even come up with the money to race now. Kim email me at kindatuchy@aol.com with your email address and I will explain myself. Sorry I lost your email from last year but I would like to discuss this between us.

Aloha, Brad

7-04-2009 @ 3:47PM

IT'S NOT JUST THE PICTURE KENTUCKY BRAD.
Just read what KKK SAID about METHFIELD and what RYAN NEWMAN and other drivers IN THE OTHER FILE ABOUT J methfield comments.
KKK WAS HIS TEAMMATE, HE KNEW HIM BETTER THAN ALL OF US.
It's not just the picture; for 2+ years a rumor has been circulating here in town about JEREMY METHFIELD and the former BIKER DRIVER being under observation from the police dept whwn they are here in town for racing feb.-july. i posted oit before in another blog ( amonth ago, the 1st blog about jeremy mayflower, i think it was).
it's not just the pict. it's also 4 TEAM OWNERS REFUSING TO LET J METHS ALLOWING HIM TO SEAT BEHIND THE WILL OF THEIR CARS!.
IT'S NOT JUST THE PICT, EVEN THOUGH A PICTURE DOES MEAN A 1000 OF WORD OR THOSE WHICH UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS OF SUCH PICT. AND KNOW WHAT THEY ARE LOKING AT.
YES,I TOO SAID INNNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILT IN A COURT OF LAW after the judge allowed METHFIELD to race until trial date at least,(that JM about file)
but i also said; nobody against methfield waves the white flag yet.(white flag==== SURRENDER FLAG, did not mean racing last lap).
SINCE the judge decisions other details have been coming out about methfield guilt.
And both teates results were POSITIVE.
DOES NOT MATTER WHAT MAYFLOWER MIXED TO RESULT POSITIVE TO A TEST. ANYBODY can take a high dose of over the counter claritin or plenty other over the counter or PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND BECOME IMPAIRED,
IN ANOTHER STATE OF MIND, ILLED PERMANENTLY OR EVEN DEAD! PROOF; ANNA NICOLE- MICHAEL JACKSON-ELVIS PRESLEY- all 3 died from OVERDOSE OF PRESCRIPTIONS DRUGS NOT ILLEGAL DRUGS.
JIMMY HENDRICKS WAS ILLEGAL DRUGS DEATH.
NOW ALL THE SEERS AND CRYSTAL BOWL ANTI JM FANS and DRIVERS the party is not over yet but as MUCH AS methfield shall not be made guilty until decided in a court of law,all FACTS ARE POINTING TO METHFIELD GUILTY. As much as i dislike THE NAZCAR 3rd reich leadership i'll close with a wit and words from the FURHER HIMSELF;
NAZCAR IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF RUINING DRIVERS CARREERS!!!.
NOBODY IS CONDEMNING THE METHHEAD BASED JUST ON THE LOOK OF A PICTURE BRAD, EVEN THOUGH again; at times a picture MEANS A 1000 OF WORDS TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT.
LMAO, Have a great day,METHFIELD is one DISAGREEMENT
for many of us i guess.
Heading to the track soon and glad methfield is not there to endanger any other driver life or even himself.
works for me..

7-04-2009 @ 4:46PM

Anna, I have been a friend of Bill W's since 1985 so if there is any question in your mind as to if I know what I'm looking at rest assured....I do, and the picture on the blog your looking at is no different than Biffles picture on the article on him, neither one gives any indication of someone on drugs. Have fun at the race Anna.

Aloha, Brad

P.S. If your not Condemning him, how is it your also glad he won't be endangering other drivers or himself? Also if you mix the drugs JM said caused the false positive that he was taking at the time, they will cause a false positive,,,,just another of those facts not pointing to his guilt. Be safe out there today Anna watch out for any UFE'S,,,,,,unidentified flying Edwards....LMAO

7-04-2009 @ 7:07PM

BRAD I AGRRE TO A POINT, THAT WE SHALL WAIT TO WHAT THE COURTS DECIDE FOR METHFIELD. But MAN.........EVERYTHING POINTS OUT NEGATIVELY FOR HIM.
It's not the other way around and again,; there is more than just the picture out there.
my ESP POWERS keep on telling me he is adrug user.
Sure there is a slight chance i could be wrong. IF
he will be found drug free, I WILL APOLOGYZE. What can i say? a screw up of mine. I ALWAYS SAID; none of us poster is perfect and that INCLUDES ME.
Now i really got to get out of here BEFORE RUNNING LATE AS USUAL. I'LL BE IN the first 10 rows mainstrech behind SPIT ROW. Look out for an anti riot police shield to shield myself from HAYWARDS.
CIAO, CIAO.

7-05-2009 @ 3:25AM

Wow Anna,

you must have had a great view of Kyle trying to kill himself and an even better view of watching Tony win....way to go Tony.

7-05-2009 @ 4:34AM

BREAD, JUST AS MUCH AS I NEED TO BE AT BRISTOL YA GOT TO BE AT DAYTONA SOME DAY.TAKE A SEAT 15-2O ROWS UP ON THE TOP FLOOR/BALCONY whatever, and YOU WILL SEE THE ENTIRE TRACK even when the driver are at the other end or on the back stretch if ya got a good vision, ya can spot and follow your driver.
this area is right by the 2 SPRINT TOWERS.
Any other time i had to use a binocular much more than today.IT'S TOP ENTERTAINEMENT DUDE, SERIOUSLY.
oh and the usual chochotrain carovans too was not as bad or even close like other times.
mainly the train wagons today were few 5-6 drivers
out front the all race.
works for me, will work for mike too hater of chocho trains, lmao.

7-05-2009 @ 5:26AM

Your right Anna,

The race tonight even though it was a plate race looked a little different and it was the cars being a little more spread out than usual and there wasn't a ton of lead changes. The inside line was the place to be all night and Tony and his pit crew had a lock on that spot.

Aloha, Brad

P.S. One of these days I'll make the trek to Daytona, I've been to the Brickyard and didn't really like the size of the track and not being able to see the cars going all the way around but that was because I was on the inside of the track in a suite behind the pits where the stands are of equal height on both sides of the track. I'm sure Daytona would be different. If I go though we have to hook up to meet and say hello so I could at least buy you a beer.

7-05-2009 @ 5:37AM

ok fine well try some day to meet defenetely,
however do not forget your binoculars anyway if you go at daytona, even if you get a good top area seat and ya will not need it much. hasta la vista.

7-05-2009 @ 11:38AM

you must think you are relly cute calling mayfield methfield i for one think you are stupid more you talk about the picture the more you sound like a crack head yourself