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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Yes, absolutely Keith. The judge granted the TRO for Mayfield due to what he felt was a significant level of doubt in the validity of the test results and the inadequacies of the testing procedures combined with a highly plausible explanation by Mayfield with the prescription drug combo.

Combined, the harm to Mayfield far outweighed the harm to Nascar in granting him the TRO given the facts. If Mayfield had not taken the Adderrall/Claritin combo, regardless of the the testing procdures, with no good explanation of a positive result, I do not think the Judge would have ruled for Mayfield...JMO...as even if the testing procedures aren't iron clad, absent a plausible explanation, I do not think they are THAT inadequate to prodcue a random false positive absent circumstances like Mayfields'
I've heard enough stories about Mikey being an alcoholic to believe it 100%. As far as Mayfield goes, I don't think he was on Meth, it would be really hard to be as successful as he was in life with a Meth addiction. I believe him and i hope he takes nascar to the bank
Mayfield not at Daytona when garage opens
By JENNA FRYER

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Jeremy Mayfield did not have his car at Daytona International Speedway when the garage opened — the deadline for entering his team in time to participate in Saturday night's race.

It does not mean Mayfield will not try to make the field. He still can enter as the driver for another team and has until late Thursday afternoon to state his intentions.

Mayfield's indefinite suspension for failing a drug test was lifted Wednesday by a federal judge. NASCAR suspended him May 9 for testing positive for methamphetamines. He's denied ever using the drug.

Mayfield missed seven races during his suspension.
Not surprising... the logistics alone were extremely tough to overcome in such a short time frame.
Latest, from Jayski:

Mayfield not at Daytona as garage opens: Car owners #64-Larry Gunselman and #36-Tommy Baldwin say they will not put Jeremy Mayfield in their cars this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Gunselman says his sponsor, Fred's, does not want Mayfield in the car. Baldwin says Mayfield has too much baggage to drive his car. Mayfield's indefinite suspension for a failed drug test was lifted by a federal judge on Wednesday, allowing him to race this weekend. His team was not at the track when the garage opened Thursday, which NASCAR initially said was the deadline for the #41 to enter the race. NASCAR now says Mayfield has until 3 p.m. to bring Mayfield Motorsports to the track.(Associated Press)(7-2-2009)

So Gunselman and Baldwin are worrying about their image, but Mayfield still has until 3 to get his car there. I wonder if NASCAR informed him of that yesterday, so he could have actually taken advantage of the several extra hours available?

Really, the best possible outcome of this whole thing is for NASCAR to gain some humility and straighten up thier rules and policies, and for Mayfield to get a settlement check and just go away.
Amen! But we both know this is not going to happen...lol
I think NASCAR is going to get bitten big time on this one. Especially, we when one of the top Drug Testing Doctors started to take apart NASCAR's policy on ESPN. The courts typically want percision in the process and not gray areas such as no list of drugs.
If it was an adderall/claritin combo why did he not let them know when they did the test? Then there probably would not have been all this going on. Commonsense to me. Could be a conspiracy though Mayfield planned the whole thing!! :)
Who give a rat's a-- about what Mayfield did or didn't do this whole issue is about keeping drivers safe....Just say Mayfield never took Meth and he did only take over the counter meds and what was prescribed......point is that he pissed hot for what looked like meth to a drug lab......I mean it could be possible that his body was working like a little meth lab, but, the question is did the same chemical recation that made him piss hot also get him high and if so do you want him on the track with our guy Robby........No matter what happens in the court Nascar did right by getting him off the track........
well I'm with you brother
I agree but comming from a person who has ADHD the meds they give you do not give you any kind of "buzz". If a person who does not have ADHD takes the drug it will give that person a buzz. So if Mayfield has a perscription for Adderal or whatever and truly has ADHD he is no danger to anyone. NASCAR should be smart enough to know this and JM should have been smart enough to disclose this.
@Bighead. You are ABSOLUTELY 100% correct that Nascar did the right thing at Richmond. Their response to the initial positive test was what should have been done.

The problem lies with how they handled the B Sample and dealing with what is a plausible explanation on what could have caused a false positive (if it indeed is a false positive result).

They have botched that big time...procedurally, legally, and in the media.

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