Mayfield Suspension Talk

NASCAR suspends Sprint Cup driver under terms of drug policy

By Jim Utter - jutter@charlotteobserver.com
Saturday, May. 09, 2009
NASCAR has suspended a Sprint Cup driver under terms of its substance abuse policy - immediately and indefinitely - in advance of Saturday nightís race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, ThatsRacin.com and The Charlotte Observer have learned.

Sources said the driver, who has not been identified by officials, was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 7-5 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2009 NASCAR rule book. The determination was based on findings at last weekendís race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

NASCAR on Saturday declined to discuss the matter, saying that questions would be dealt with in a news conference at the South Carolina track on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Such a suspension would be the first under NASCARís drug policies for a driver at the top level, the Spring Cup Series.

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Permalink Reply by Dave-O on July 1, 2009 at 7:03pm

Jayski is suggesting Mayfield may run the #64. That alone should keep him out of the show.

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Permalink Reply by Wheaton56 on July 1, 2009 at 7:09pm

on sirius today they had the updates from the procedings.

Sounds like the judge thinks there are some shady deals going on in Nascar.
If the Judge felt he was putting a drugy on the track he would have done something differnt, like say JM was in the wrong and be banned from Nascar

I HOPE, Jeremy was legit this whole time and the Big head of NASCAR gets their face slammed in the door.
sounds like they always making decisions based on their veiws.....

Maybe their Lwayers should have read all the rules and regs about drug testing before trying to enforce their all oh mighty testing policy

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Permalink Reply by alan4s on July 1, 2009 at 8:37pm

I agree. I truly hope Mayfield is being honest with us, and his example will force NASCAR to use a ~~bit~~ LOT more intelligence in their rule making and enforcement.

I really don't care much for JM as a racer, and could care less if he succeeds on the track, but NASCAR's handling of this issues from day 1 has seemed really fly-by-night.

Now, if it turns out Mayfield really was using drugs, then throw the book at him and I hope he rots in hell. But until there is unconditional proof (which obviously the judge today does not feel there is) then give the guy a chance.

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Permalink Reply by MikeNIN7 on July 1, 2009 at 7:23pm

TOG you need to change the name of the forum to The Jermy Mayfield Suspention Forum. I keep thinking for a sec. another driver got suspended. lol

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Permalink Reply by Country Boy on July 1, 2009 at 8:04pm

I was in Darlington the day Spencer made his return from a one-race suspension for punching Kurt Busch. He received a standing ovation from the crowd.

I don't think Jeremy will get the same reaction.

That dartboard in Mike Helton's office used to have Rob's picture on it ...

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Permalink Reply by Dave-O on July 1, 2009 at 9:25pm

RG is a winner on this one- now NASCAR can focus the fury elsewhere.

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Permalink Reply by jack on July 1, 2009 at 9:43pm

Nascar has alot of money.. I'm sure they can afford more than one dart-board...lol.. Although they might change the locations of the Dartboard for easier hitting....lol

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Permalink Reply by dkam7 on July 1, 2009 at 11:06pm

NASCAR is going to get put in there place with this case. They have F'd over to many people in the past, this time it will catch up with them.

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Permalink Reply by Beagle7 on July 2, 2009 at 12:01am

@Alan SPot on comments

@ Wheaton..spot on with your last comment...at times with other legal issues in Nascar where I've railed against Nascar and how stupid their lawyers appear to be, there' always the few posts that say...well dont ya think Nascar would hire people who know what they're doing?

I defer to my post in the affadavit thread from a few days back:

"I personally think Nascar is a bunch of stupid fu@#$ing screwups. For the most part the system runs itself and it works, but when you get into the occasional gray area in any facet of the sport (drug testing, contracts, rules interpetations), they are always caught off guard and sound like a bunch of buffoons.

I think we are seeing one of those gray areas right here...and believe me I think I hate Mayfield more than Nascar beaurocracy...lol"

THough the judge did not want to touch damages or the merits of the case....reading between the lnes it was fairly obvious he believes Mayfield has a legitimate case.

And I still say RCR/AT&T could have pursued and FOOKED Nascar with an Antitrust case over that fiasco!

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Permalink Reply by Bricoop on July 2, 2009 at 3:37am

I personally dont believe JM. I think though that he will win his case. Look at MW,I have a very close friend who observed MW throwing up in a bathroom in charlotte. He obviously has a drinking problem, who got out of a DUI(and was clearly guilty) and he got no punishment from Nascar(because of NAPA). I believe Nascar will settle because they have the money and do not need a high profile supreme court case damaging the reputation of their sport. Unfortunately it is the world we live in.

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Permalink Reply by Beagle7 on July 2, 2009 at 8:34am

it's a tough call no doubt....there is a very plausible explanation/possibility Mayfield is pushing....but then aagain, and like I said in a prior post...he's also a relatively smart person that might know htat taking those 2 prescription drugs could be used as a story to "mask" use of the drug he is being accused of taking....

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Permalink Reply by Keith on July 2, 2009 at 10:13am

In the end, this will NOT be about whether JM did or did not inhale... it will be about NASCAR's drug policy's inadequacies... and maybe it should be. NASCAR has always held a "holier than thou" view on things and never wrong about anything. The judge sort of made their lawyers look foolish when they could/would not answer a couple of questions with a straight yes/no type of answer. He chided them, asking if they were able to "man-up" and take a position.