Contract: sponsor - part-owner; driver - owner
- Drug Policy: see the Charlotte Observer for
NASCAR's Drug Policy (pdf)
Mayfield's lawsuit (pdf)
- NASCAR plans no immediate changes to drug policy: NASCAR does not plan any immediate changes to its substance-abuse policy in light of Jeremy Mayfield's victory in obtaining a preliminary injunction forcing NASCAR to lift his suspension for an alleged positive drug test for methamphetamines, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Thursday. Part of Mayfield's case questions the guidelines that NASCAR must follow in its drug-testing policy. Mayfield argues that NASCAR must follow the guidelines for federal agencies; NASCAR contends that it does not have to do so. NASCAR will continue with its random drug-testing policy, which it implemented this year, during this weekend's events at Daytona International Speedway just as it has done all year, Poston said. Poston said he is not aware of any challenges from any crew members suspended this year under the policy, and he did not think the ruling would prompt challenges.(SceneDaily)(7-3-2009) Comment here
- NASCAR changes drug testing process: #9-Kasey Kahne says NASCAR has stepped up its drug testing procedure since the suspension of Jeremy Mayfield. Kahne said the tests he took prior to the suspension were "in and out" in five to 10 minutes. He said his most recent test two weeks ago at Infineon Raceway took nearly 40 minutes. "It's a process now," Kahne said on Thursday at Daytona. "Every little step you have to sign your name or initial, work with the person that is taking the sample. To me that's because of the whole Mayfield incident, to clarify everything and make sure the driver and also the person taking the sample is on the same page." NASCAR's procedure was under attack when attorneys were seeking a temporary injunction to get Mayfield's suspension lifted, which it was on Wednesday by a federal judge in Charlotte, N.C. Attorneys for Mayfield questioned whether Mayfield saw the seal put on his "A" and "B" samples. Kahne said he always has watched the collector put on the seal, but that the process wasn't so detailed before. #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, who was tested at Dover in early June, said there is a lot more paperwork now. "I did it at Daytona [in February] and it was a little easier," he said. "[At Dover] it was like proof of who you are. I'm like, 'I'm a freaking racer.' " Three-time defending Cup champion #48-Jimmie Johnson has not been tested since Mayfield's suspension, but said he's had to wait on other drivers who were and it's taken longer. He noted at Sonoma Kahne held up things because he had to go get his driver's license, something that he didn't understand to be required previously.(ESPN.com)(7-3-2009) Comment here
- NASCAR questions Mayfield's urgency to get back to track: NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Jeremy Mayfield's absence from the track Friday called into question the argument his attorneys used in requesting a preliminary injunction on NASCAR's drug suspension. Here's what Poston said: "Jeremy and his legal team asked for a preliminary injunction for emergency relief because it was necessary apparently to come and compete here in Daytona. Apparently he’s not here and it appears as if he’s not going to compete this weekend which would raise some questions on how much of an emergency it really was."(Orlando Sentinel)(7-3-2009)
- Mayfield not at Daytona as garage opens: UPDATE 2: 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)
UPDATE: [Mayfield] can drive for someone else or bring his own #41 Toyota to the track, but the $5,005 late entry fee is daunting for the cash-strapped Mayfield. He said in an affidavit last week that he laid off 10 employees, borrowed money from family and had to sell personal assets to cover his living expenses. Phil Parsons said he'd keep Dave Blaney in his #66 car, and Joe Nemechek said he had no intention of giving up his seat in his #87. (Associated Press)(7-2-2009)
UPDATE 2: Jeremy Mayfield has missed the deadline to enter his car into Saturday night's race at Daytona International Speedway. He had an afternoon deadline Thursday to bring the #41 Toyota to the track, and it passed with no sign of Mayfield or his race team.(Associated Press)(7-2-2009) Comment here
- Ramsey Poston speaks about Mayfield ruling: Today on "The Morning Drive" on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, hosts Mike Bagley and Nate Ryan spoke with NASCAR managing director of corporate communications Ramsey Poston about the temporary injunction issued yesterday by a judge that lifted driver Jeremy Mayfield's drug suspension.
Bagley: "What are the next steps for NASCAR?"
Poston: "We've got a couple of options to consider. At this point it is to, with regards to the lawsuit, is to begin to go into the discovery phase, begin to get testimony and affidavits and a witness list."
Bagley: "Does yesterday's temporary injunction affect the current policy or procedure in place or does it even raise a discussion that there perhaps at some point needs to be a change to the policy and the procedure?"
Poston: "In the short term we'll continue to implement our policy as is because, again, this was a temporary injunction to allow him back onto the track. It was not any sort of indictment in terms of the policy. But anytime you go through any sort of challenge on any policy, you tend to learn more about it and I suspect once we get past this process and the dust settles, we'll look back and say, 'OK, where can we strengthen the policy? What can we do?' I will say this: if this stands and if this is not reversed, this becomes a much larger question for all of sports and all of substance abuse testing. This now means that any athlete in any sport, regardless of what contracts they've signed, can now take that to court and be allowed back onto the playing surface."
Host, Nate Ryan: "Ramsey, are you guys going to appeal the decision?"
Poston: "That is one of the options that we're considering. We have not made a decision on that yet."
Ryan: "When do you have to make that decision by?"
Poston: "We have some time to make it, so there's no definitive deadline on when it has to be made."
(Sirius NASCAR Radio PR)(7-2-2009) Comment here
- Mayfield's attorney speaks: Wednesday on "Sirius Speedway" on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, host Dave Moody spoke with Bill Diehl, the attorney for driver Jeremy Mayfield.
Host, Dave Moody: "In your view, what was the key to this decision going your way?"
Bill Diehl: "Probably NASCAR's over the top confidence about how right they were and how wrong Jeremy was. You know, they were wrong about it from the get-go and we stayed with our position throughout the argument and throughout the time that we've been suspended and we just carried the day as far as the judge is concerned that Jeremy had been treated wrong and to right the wrong meant giving him back his position in NASCAR and suspending the suspension."
Moody: "How soon will he be back? Will we see Mayfield Motorsports at Daytona trying to qualify this weekend and, if so, will Jeremy be the driver?"
Diehl: "I think that's probably problematic to be perfectly honest. I think it's real difficult for him to get ready starting tonight and then race Saturday. He normally would have three days with a Sunday race and instead he only has two with a Saturday night race and I think it will be quite difficult. He hasn't made up his mind as far as a final decision is concerned but I think it realistic to expect that he'd be returning next week rather than this week."
Moody: "There have been conflicting reports since the ruling was announced earlier this afternoon about whether or not NASCAR would appeal this decision. What's your expectation? Do you have any at this point?"
Diehl: "I really don't. You know, they would do well to put this behind them, put this whole issue behind them, and go forward. It's what I hope. But, again, they're proud people and they don't lose very often and they've lost something that they may decide to try to carry on the case even longer and fight harder and that might be their position. I can't tell you today, for certain, that there'll be any contact. The judge himself urged the parties to try to talk to each other. We're certainly willing. We've never been haughty about this. We've never been over the top and I don't think we've been pushy. We've said, 'We have rights. We think they ought to be vindicated. We think you ought to listen.' So far they've been real hard to deal with. Maybe their position will change. I can't predict that."
(Sirius NASCAR Radio PR)(7-2-2009) Comment here
- Mayfield wins injunction: UPDATE 2: Independence Day came a few days early for suspended Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield, as a federal judge granted him a temporary injunction allowing him to race this weekend. The ruling, made Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Charlotte by senior Judge Graham Mullen, lifted his suspension for failing NASCAR's substance abuse policy and allows him to return as the driver/owner of his #41 team in time for Saturday night's race at Daytona International Speedway. Mullen said in granting the injunction that the irreparable harm appeared to be greater for Mayfield than NASCAR.(ESPN.com)(7-1-2009)
UPDATE: NASCAR chairman Brian France said the organization has no immediate plans to file an appeal, but he didn't rule it out. "We are disappointed, but we respect the judge's ruling," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said in a statement. "This is only a temporary injunction. The legal case continues beyond this point, and we will continue to make our case." (Associated Press)(7-1-2009)
UPDATE 2: ESPN's David Newton reported on Wednesday's NASCAR Now that Mayfield probably does not have time to get his #41 team down to Daytona for this week's race, but that he could be in the #64 for Larry Gunselman.(7-1-2009) Comment here
- NASCAR: Mayfield positive for meth: NASCAR has confirmed suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield tested positive for methamphetamines. The confirmation from NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston came Wednesday after Mayfield's attorney mentioned the illegal substance several times during a 45-minute argument against the suspension. Mayfield has denied using methamphetamines. He's in federal court in Charlotte, N.C., trying to have his suspension lifted in time to race this weekend at Daytona International Speedway.
Mayfield lawyer Bill Diehl argued that NASCAR's testing system is flawed because Mayfield was never given the opportunity to have his backup "B" sample tested by an independent laboratory. The court recessed after Diehl's argument and will reconvene at 2pm/et.(Associated Press/ESPN)(7-1-2009) Comment here
- Latest on Mayfield, 2nd test by independent lab: Testing performed by an independent laboratory supported the results that left Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield indefinitely suspended for failing NASCAR's substance abuse policy, court documents said. Results of the test and the name of the individual tested were blacked out, but a NASCAR spokesman confirmed they were identical. The documents, part of NASCAR's response to Mayfield's lawsuit to have his indefinite suspension lifted, show that Medtox Laboratories in Minnesota tested both his "A" and backup "B" samples last week and "confirmed the presence" of a substance that is blacked out in the filing. NASCAR claims Mayfield tested positive for a "dangerous, illegal, banned substance" and should not be allowed back on the track. It was revealed in open court two weeks ago that the drug was amphetamines. ESPN the Magazine's Ryan McGee, citing multiple sources, said it was methamphetamines. Mayfield's attorneys claim that NASCAR's drug testing program does not meet federal workplace guidelines. They argue that Mayfield did not give permission for the "B" sample to be tested after the "A" sample came back positive and that the "B" sample should have been tested at an independent laboratory. They said since proper procedure was not used and because the "B" sample was compromised when opened, thus not giving Mayfield the opportunity to send it to a second lab, that the entire test should be invalid. Both samples originally were tested by Aegis Laboratory, the Nashville Tenn.-based facility NASCAR employs to run its testing program. The most recent test was conducted at MedTox Laboratories in St. Paul, Minn. All the evidence will be dealt with at a Wednesday [July 1st] hearing in U.S. District Court, where Mayfield is seeking a temporary restraining order that would allow him back in the car, possibly as early as Saturday night's race at Daytona International Speedway.(see full story at ESPN.com)(6-30-2009)
- Mayfield denies taking drugs: Suspended NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield denies ever taking methamphetamines and says he doesn't know how he failed a random drug test. Mayfield's denial is found in an affidavit that is among several hundred pages of documents filed Thursday by his attorneys in U.S. District Court. The driver was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR on May 9 for failing a random drug test conducted eight days earlier at Richmond International Raceway. He is suing NASCAR for immediate reinstatement, and his next court date is July 1. NASCAR is countersuing and alleges Mayfield breached his contract and defrauded NASCAR and its competitors of earnings.(Associated Press)(6-26-2009)
- NASCAR says Mayfield expert lied; court date set UPDATE 2: NASCAR has filed a motion in federal court that says an expert witness for suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield lied about his credentials. The motion was filed Tuesday. It claims Dr. Harvey MacFenerstein falsely represented himself on six counts in a May 29 affidavit presented on behalf of Mayfield, who was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR after failing a drug test. NASCAR says MacFenerstein does not have the medical degrees or certifications he listed in his qualifications. In his testimony about NASCAR's drug-testing policy, MacFenerstein said the policy is flawed and does not meet federal workplace guidelines. His findings were the basis of Mayfield's argument that he should be immediately reinstated.(Associated Press)(6-16-2009)
UPDATE: An expert witness for suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield is defending his qualifications after NASCAR accused him of lying about his credentials. Dr. Harvey MacFenerstein says he noticed mistakes in the affidavit that was prepared on Mayfield's behalf. He says in a statement on Thursday that he corrected the mistakes in his educational background, but the revisions were not on the affidavit that was submitted May 29. MacFenerstein did not say who prepared the incorrect affidavit. NASCAR on Monday filed a motion to have MacFenerstein's testimony dismissed. Mayfield is challenging his indefinite drug suspension, prompted by a positive drug test.(Associated Press)(6-18-2009)
UPDATE 3: Suspended NASCAR driver/owner Jeremy Mayfield’s next race won’t be at least until the July 4 event at Daytona International Speedway as U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen has set a hearing for July 1 for Mayfield’s preliminary injunction request to keep NASCAR from enforcing its indefinite suspension against him.(SceneDaily)(6-19-2009) Comment here
- Mayfield sued by parts supplier, chassis builder: Suspended owner/driver #41-Jeremy Mayfield's Mayfield Motorsports Inc. has been sued for $86,304.55 for parts, pieces and chassis work. Triad Racing Technologies and BDR Acquisition are suing Mayfield in North Carolina Superior Court in Charlotte. The suit was filed last Wednesday. Both companies share the same address, and their registered agent with the state of North Carolina is TRT co-owner Mike Held, who was one of the people who bought the assets of Bill Davis Racing and his chassis/engine shop Triad Racing Development. The suit claims that on Jan. 22, Mayfield requested parts from BDR Acquisition for his new Sprint Cup team but later requested to return the parts rather than pay for them and then returned only a portion of the parts. Mayfield also asked for some paint work to be done. He owes $79,763.95 for those services, according to the lawsuit. Triad Racing Technologies did chassis work for Mayfield, and TRT claims that Mayfield owes $6,540.60.(Scene Daily)(6-17-2009) Comment here
- Source: drug named that triggered positive test of Mayfield UPDATE: Jeremy Mayfield tested positive for methamphetamine during a random drug screening May 1 at Richmond International Raceway, ESPN The Magazine has learned from two independent sources. In court documents filed in the past two weeks (Mayfield sought a temporary restraining in order to return to the track; NASCAR countersued), it was revealed that Mayfield had admitted ingesting a double dosage of Claritin-D [note: which contains pseudoephedrine which is used in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine], an allergy medication, and the prescription drug Adderall XR immediately prior to the Richmond drug test conducted for NASCAR.(full story at ESPN the Magazine)(6-9-2009)
UPDATE: Suspended for failing a drug test, driver Jeremy Mayfield said he "inhaled fumes from a fiery wreck in the Talledega race," according to more court papers filed in the battle between Mayfield and NASCAR. Mayfield was indefinitely suspended May 9 for failing a random drug test conducted May 1 at Richmond International Raceway. He filed suit to overturn his suspension on May 29. In legal papers obtained Monday, a response by NASCAR drug testing firm Aegis Labs said a doctor asked Mayfield if he had taken any diet medications or inhalers, specifically, Vick’s Inhaler. Mayfield said he had not, the papers say. Doctors said in the documents that they agreed with Mayfield's account from an earlier suit that in a subsequent phone call Mayfield said "he was in a fiery wreck while competing in the Talledega race in late April .... and inhaled a large amount of fumes." The Talledega race was in late April, prior to Richmond.(Charlotte Observer)(6-10-2009) Comment here
- NASCAR countersues Mayfield: NASCAR filed a countersuit against Jeremy Mayfield on Friday, accusing the suspended Sprint Cup driver of willfully violating the substance abuse policy, breach of contract and defrauding competitors of earnings. The suit stated that Mayfield knowingly participated in sanctioned competition using a combination of drugs in violation of the substance abuse policy that he agreed to follow. "And in doing so violated his contract with NASCAR and the standards of care for other drivers," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said from Pocono Raceway. Mayfield was suspended on May 9 for violating NASCAR's substance abuse policy after failing a random drug test taken a week earlier. He then hired Charlotte, N.C.-based attorney Bill Diehl and made charges against the governing body ranging from defamation of character to discrimination against someone with a disability (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Mayfield's attorneys argued in an open court hearing, in which they sought a temporary restraining order to get the driver back on the track, that Mayfield's positive test was the result of taking Adderall prescribed for ADHD and Claritin-D for allergies.
NASCAR revealed in court that Mayfield tested positive for three drugs, two of which were explained (Adderall and Claritin-D) and amphetamines. Attorney Paul Hendrick described the drug as a dangerous, illegal, banned substance. "You will see in [the lawsuit] he competed in a number of races that had we known he had been on a medication he was on and certainly known there were illegal substances involved we wouldn't have allowed him to compete," Poston said. According to Poston, drivers are required in their contract with NASCAR to notify Dr. David Black, who runs the drug testing program at AEGIS Lab in Tennessee, of any prescription drugs they are taking. The suit alleged that Mayfield did not notify anybody with NASCAR that he was on a prescription drug until the May 1 drug test, and that Mayfield already had participated in two races while on the drug. The suit said that Mayfield crashed in three of the five races in which he competed this season, including races in which he was under the influence of the drug he failed to report to NASCAR, a combination of drugs and the illegal drug that was blacked out in the suit. The suit also said Mayfield earned more than $150,000 in those races that would have gone to other competitors. Poston pointed to the loss of income by other competitors when asked if NASCAR sought financial damages in the suit. Poston would not comment about Adderall or amphetamines. North Carolina Superior Judge Forrest Bridges placed a gag order on both sides from discussing details of the substances last Friday. Poston also would not say whether Adderall is considered a banned substance on NASCAR's list. But in the countersuit there are two paragraphs, one referring to an illegal drug that is blacked out and another to a drug that also is on the banned list. "NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy prohibits excessive levels of [blacked out]," the suit said. "[Blacked out] use suppresses fatigue, increases alertness, enhances psychomotor performance, and produces euphoria. Mild [blacked out] produces insomnia, increased blood pressure and pulse rate, excitation, hyperactive reflexes, and palpitations. More serious side effects include paranoia, aggressive behavior and psychosis.'' The policy also states that "to the extent that the use of any substance, including properly prescribed prescription drugs and properly over-the-counter medicines, causes a competitor or official to have a competitive advantage or diminished or impaired ability to perform his or her duties on the day of an event, those substances shall be deemed to be prohibited substances for the purposes of this policy." The suit states that Mayfield signed an agreement to abide by the sanctioning body's policy on February 5. "Mayfield's willful misconduct at the track in which he competed while an illegal substance was still in his system is evidence he presented a danger to himself and others," Poston said.
John Buric, one of Mayfield's attorneys, was surprised by the countersuit. "The gloves are off and we're going to be in a fight,'' he said. Buric contended that Mayfield wasn't required to notify NASCAR he was on any drug because the policy does not identify what drugs are banned. "If they are trying to contend that Adderall is somehow an illegal drug that violates the policy, that is their argument,'' he said. "They seem to be arguing we did not report that to anybody, although we did.'' No date has been set on the next hearing. It will be at least two weeks after NASCAR had Wednesday's hearing moved from state to federal court because the federal judge is on vacation. Mayfield's attorneys had hoped to have a temporary restraining order granted on Wednesday that would lift the suspension and allow the driver to compete this weekend at Pocono. "It's sort of like when somebody files bankruptcy,'' Diehl said earlier in the week. "It doesn't matter if I am OK with it or not, they did it.'' Mayfield initially filed for the restraining order last Friday. But since it already was too late for him to compete at Dover, Judge Bridges scheduled another hearing for Wednesday to give NASCAR attorneys more time to prepare. Hendrick said his firm was not notified of the initial hearing until about 5 p.m. the day before.(ESPN.com)(6-5-2009) Comment here
- Mayfield Motorsports mulling sponsorship options: The #41 Mayfield Motorsports car did not pull out of Dover because of sponsorship issues, Mayfield Motorsports' team manager Bobby Wooten said. But it sounds like things are a bit in flux, as you'd expect.
Wooten said that they withdrew from the race to give themselves time to organize and catch their breaths a little bit. He said the team would like to get J.J. Yeley back in the car, but very vaguely said that's in the works. "Everything's on hold," Wooten said. Of course, Mayfield has filed suit against NASCAR to lift his suspension [see story below on the lawsuit] at least until the conclusion of a court case. If he succeeds, he can get back in the car. Asked about sponsorship, Wooten said the team is still trying to figure out options. He wouldn't give any names of companies the team is involved with and said previous sponsors "may or may not be" associated with the team in the future. This season Mayfield Motorsports has been sponsored by All Sport, Big Red Soda and Smallsponsor.com.(Orlando Sentinel). also hearing that the team has been looking for partners or to sell the team, one team being contacted was the #51 team of Dexter Bean.(6-3-2009) Comment here
- NASCAR moves Mayfield case to federal court: NASCAR on Tuesday moved Jeremy Mayfield's challenge of his indefinite suspension to federal court, a move that could keep the driver out of his car another week. The notification came a day before a North Carolina Superior Court was scheduled to hear arguments pertaining to Mayfield's suspension for failing a random drug test. NASCAR's action automatically stayed that proceeding. Mayfield had hoped a judge would reinstate him in time to compete this weekend at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. His attorneys will now have to either fight the suspension in federal court, or petition the case be moved back to the state level. "Administration of NASCAR's substance abuse policy extends to every state in which it races, which is why the logical forum is federal court," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. NASCAR has not revealed what substance Mayfield tested positive for, but his attorneys said in court he tested positive for amphetamines. Bridges warned both sides not to discuss Mayfield's test results.(Associated Press)(6-2-2009)
- Court to continue case next week: A judge on Friday denied Jeremy Mayfield's request for a temporary restraining order that would have lifted the NASCAR driver's suspension and enabled him to get back in his #41 Sprint Cup car. Judge Forrest Bridges scheduled a hearing in Mecklenburg County Court for Wednesday to determine whether Mayfield, who was suspended May 9 for violating NASCAR's substance abuse policy, can compete at Pocono next weekend and until his case is settled. Bridges issued a gag order preventing attorneys for Mayfield and NASCAR from discussing what drug Mayfield tested positive for, which according to arguments by both sides in open court was amphetamines. "It's like the rain delay on Sunday in Charlotte [the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway], except this one goes to next week," said Bill Diehl, an attorney for Mayfield. Asked what was gained by Friday's hearing, Diehl said, "We know what their case is and they know what our case is about." Mayfield and Diehl filed a lawsuit on Friday challenging the driver's suspension for what NASCAR said was a failed random drug test.
In presenting Mayfield's side, John Buric, an attorney in Diehl's firm, said Mayfield had taken Claritin-D, an allergy drug, in addition to Adderall, a prescription medication used to treat attention deficit disorder. Buric said, according to NASCAR, Mayfield had tested positive for amphetamines; Adderall is a name-brand amphetamine. It was not immediately clear whether Adderall or its ingredients are on NASCAR's banned substance list. NASCAR has not identified what Mayfield tested positive for or made its list of banned substances public. Mayfield has contended from the beginning that he did nothing wrong and the positive test was the result of combining a prescription drug with Claritin-D. Dr. David Black, who runs NASCAR's testing program, has since ruled that out as a possibility.
Mayfield's request for an injunction listed seven charges, from breach of character to unjustly preventing Mayfield from participating in any NASCAR function and thus earn a living. Diehl also asked that NASCAR officials stop talking publicly about Mayfield's drug test, which Bridges granted.(ESPN)(5-29-2009) Comment here
- No Mayfield car at Dover? UPDATE in court Friday: The J.J. Yeley site has this posted: "Mayfield Motorsports will not be taking the #41 Toyota to the Dover 400 this weekend. No reason was given at this time.". Yeley drove the car in the Sprint Showdown and attemopted to make the Coca Cola 600 but didn't. Yeley replaced Jeremy Mayfield in the #41 after Darlington when Mayfield was suspended for violating NASCAR's sunstance abuse policy. The entry list still shows the #41 entered.
AND Racingforthewin.com - Reliable sources says Mayfield Motorsports reportedly sent all their employees home on Tuesday, and told employees they will not compete at the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway.
AND 2: was told earlier in the week by the team that the #41 would be at Dover and future races.(5-28-2009)
UPDATE: Jeremy Mayfield sought a temporary restraining order on Friday in an attempt to lift his suspension and return to his #41 Sprint Cup Toyota until his case is settled. Mayfield and his attorney, Bill Diehl, filed the suit in Mecklenburg County Court on Friday afternoon. Mayfield's request for an injunction listed seven charges, from breach of character to unjustly preventing Mayfield from participating in any NASCAR function and thus earn a living. Diehl also asked that NASCAR officials stop talking publicly about Mayfield's drug test. NASCAR's attorneys, led by Paul Hendrick, sought more time to respond to the complaint, saying there was no way for Mayfield to race this weekend. Hendrick said Mayfield should not not allowed back on the track. "We cannot allow people to drive when we thin that he has issues of drug abuse or a positive test," he said. NASCAR president Mike Helton was in attendance with spokesman Kerry Tharp, as was Mayfield and his wife Shana, who is the owner of Mayfield's racing team while he is suspended. Mayfield was indefinitely suspended by NASCAR as a driver and owner on May 9 for violating the substance abuse policy. He has contended from the beginning that he did not do anything wrong, that the positive test was the result of combining a prescription drug with Claritin-D. Mayfield hired Diehl, one of North Carolina's most prominent attorneys, to challenge the findings. Diehl said it was "pretty compelling that we get" the restraining order. "If [the judge] signs it, it'll lift the suspension," he said. Meanwhile, in Dover, the Sprint Cup team owned by Shana Mayfield withdrew its entry for this weekend's race. Mayfield Motorsports did not bring the #41 to Dover International Speedway and attempt to qualify for Sunday's race.(ESPN)(5-29-2009) Comment here
- No lawsuit filed by Mayfield yet UPDATE: Attorney Bill Diehl says it will be next week before he and driver/owner Jeremy Mayfield reveal what action they might take against NASCAR over the sanctioning body's suspension of Mayfield following a positive drug test taken May 1. “You’ll find out more what [we are] going to do next week – nothing is going to happen today,” Diehl said late Friday afternoon. “Not that we haven’t been working today. … We are going through this methodically, and we’re doing a lot of things, and nothing is going to happen today.”(SceneDaily)(5-23-2009)
UPDATE: Chairman Brian France says NASCAR has no plans to settle the dispute with suspended Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield out of court if a lawsuit is filed. "We'll defend the policy," France said before Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "We're very confident about the policy." Mayfield hired Charlotte-based attorney Bill Diehl to challenge his positive test that resulted in an indefinite suspension as a driver and owner for violating the substance abuse policy. Mayfield's denial has raised many questions among drivers about the policy. France said the mandatory meeting that NASCAR called for drivers and owners on Tuesday at the Research and Development Center in Concord was scheduled before the suspension. "It's not related to the drug issue or the substance abuse policy, although we'll take questions on that," he said.(ESPN)(5-24-2009)
- Mayfield meets with NASCAR; legal action possible: The attorney for Jeremy Mayfield hinted Thursday he'll take legal action to have Mayfield's NASCAR suspension lifted. Mayfield and attorney Bill Diehl met for more than an hour with NASCAR officials. Although Diehl said the meeting was cordial, it did not get them any closer to resolving the issue. Mayfield was suspended May 9 for failing a random drug test. "Jeremy doesn't believe that he's done anything that supports his suspension for the use of drugs," Diehl said. NASCAR has not revealed what banned substance Mayfield used, and Diehl also refused to identify the substance. Diehl did not say what his next move will be, but strongly hinted at taking legal action Friday that will challenge the suspension and the validity of the drug test. He said he received copies of two toxicology reports this week from NASCAR. "We're contesting everything that happened," Diehl said. "We hope that it's a mistake." Joining Mayfield and Diehl at the meeting were four other Diehl associates. Representing NASCAR was general counsel Gary Crotty, assistant general counsel Karen Leetzow, Dr. David Black, administrator of NASCAR's drug testing program, and Steve O'Donnell, vice president of racing operations. "I would agree it was cordial. We laid out the process," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "They want to get Jeremy back in the car, and there is a very well-defined program to do that. Jeremy needs to meet with Dr. Black and work that out, and if he is successful in that, he can get back in the car." Mayfield was dropped off and picked up by his wife in a white Cadillac Escalade. When she returned to get him, a cameraman emerged from the back seat to film the scene. Mayfield, wearing black slacks and a long sleeve dress shirt, smiled and exchanged pleasantries, but Diehl would not allow him to comment.(Associated Press)(5-21-2009) Comment here
- Mayfield's lawyer talks to Sirius Speedway: Wednesday on "Sirius Speedway" on Sirius NASCAR Radio, host Dave Moody spoke with Bill Diehl, the attorney for suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield.
Host, Dave Moody: "Has there been at this point and will there be a lawsuit filed in this matter?"
Bill Diehl: "First question, no lawsuit has been filed. Will there be a lawsuit? That will depend on what happens between Jeremy and NASCAR which ought to be known in the next couple of days."
Moody: "What kind of conversations are being had between Jeremy and yourself and NASCAR and their representatives right now to try and settle this?"
Diehl: "The conversations I'm having with Jeremy I'm not going to tell you about. The conversations I'm having with the NASCAR lawyer with whom I've been dealing I'm not going to talk about. But they're obviously focused on whether or not Jeremy was suspended properly. Is what happened to him legitimate and should he stay suspended? Should he have to go through some type of rehabilitation, if you will, that they've asked for? So those issues are what we're talking about. Should that happen? Or, the alternative is, has he been mistreated and have they improperly deprived him of a way to make a living? There are some side issues. They've said a lot of unpleasant things about him that Jeremy doesn't believe are true. There's a separate remedy for that kind of behavior."
Moody: "Specifically what has been said about him?"
Diehl: "I haven't heard it directly so what I'm telling you is what's been published. I read a report where Mr. France gratuitously announced that the serious recreational drug use by Mr. Mayfield was very difficult, very bad and they weren't going to tolerate it. Accusing somebody that's driving a race car a couple hundred miles an hour of serious recreational drug use, that's probably not too good thing to say about him. Especially if it's not true."
Moody: "Can you tell us what specific substance has NASCAR accused Jeremy of having in his system?"
Diehl: "I could tell you. I'm not. But we do have two reports that they furnished me yesterday and then they just sent me one a couple hours ago that they hadn't furnished. So we've got two reports but I'm not going to talk about them yet. If we get in a situation where we've got to talk about them then we'll talk about them. But I'm not going to talk about them today."
Moody: "Do the two reports come to the same conclusion? Do they name the same chemical substance?"
Diehl: "I'm not going to talk about what the reports say except to tell you I have them. And then you've already been told or I've read lots of stuff that indicate what the NASCAR reps have said and what this guy, [drug test administrator Dr. David] Black, has said. The game about what is in the report is probably just that at this point. It's a game but I'm not going to participate in that game currently beyond saying that they finally furnished us two reports which they probably should have given to Mr. Mayfield long before this week."
Moody: "Jeremy has said from the start of this that this all boils down to a prescription medication that's been prescribed by a doctor for his allergies combined with a couple of Claritin D tablets that he took on the day in question in Richmond. Can you tell me what the prescription medicine that he is taking was?"
Diehl: "No, I won't reveal that yet but again that's something that he's told NASCAR. They know what it was and they've gotten the information from the doctor. They're dealing with everything Jeremy could have furnished them about anything that he'd taken, according to Jeremy. He did take a prescription drug and he does have a medical doctor who prescribed it and they have that data and they had the information about the Claritin D."
Moody: "What would it take at this point to avoid taking this to the court system? What would have to happen here in the next few days to avoid a lawsuit?"
Diehl: "Some type of acknowledgement that what happened was a mistake on the part of somebody in connection with what they did and how they did it. We're exploring that with them. We can't put Humpty Dumpty back together again. They've said it. They've suspended him. We know there are a couple of reports because we now see them. Somebody is going to have to come forward and acknowledge that, well, we thought we did what we were supposed to do, maybe we made a mistake, let's try it again."
Moody: "What's Jeremy's frame of mind and attitude right now?"
Diehl: "I think he's very upset and he's insulted. He's had a 17 year career, had some successes. He's just getting started with his own team, and this sort of takes you out at the knees if you're suddenly accused of being a recreational drug user and you're suspended from doing what you get paid to do. So, he's upset. He's trying to keep a handle on it, I think. Hopefully he's listening to what I tell him to do. He wants everybody to know that he's not guilty of what he's accused of."
Show personality, Suzie Armstrong: "How soon did he contact you after he was notified by NASCAR about this?"
Diehl: "I don't remember the date. When I knew about it I think I was watching the race from Darlington on television and it came on that he'd been suspended. And that occurred, if my memory was right - I'm not looking at a calendar - May the 9th, a Saturday. And then he called me the next week when I got back in town."
Moody: "Is there any unofficial timeline at this point for you to decide whether or not this takes the next step into the legal system?"
Diehl: "Yes, there is but I'm not going to tell you what it is."
"Sirius Speedway" airs every weekday (3-7 pm ET) exclusively on Sirius NASCAR Radio.(Sirius XM Radio)(5-21-2009) Comment here
- Mayfield hires lawyer, has toxicology report: NASCAR driver/owner #41-Jeremy Mayfield, suspended indefinitely from the sport for violating its substance-abuse policy, has retained legal counsel in the effort to clear his name. Bill Diehl, the same attorney who represented Elliott Sadler last winter in a dispute with Richard Petty Motorsports, confirmed Wednesday he is working with Mayfield, but that no suit has yet been filed. "Yes, we're working hard for Jeremy," Diehl said. "Either we'll work it out or the court will. We have not filed yet, but we're working hard. That's all I can tell you." NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed that Diehl had been in contact with the organization. "I can confirm that Mr. Diehl has been in touch with NASCAR, and we've provided him with relevant information pertaining to Jeremy's suspension, including the toxicology report," Poston said. Mayfield was not immediately available for comment.(ESPN)(5-20-2009) Comment here
- Doctor: Substance revealed to Mayfield: The administrator of NASCAR's drug-testing program said Monday he personally told Jeremy Mayfield what banned substance was found in his positive test. Dr. David Black, CEO of Aegis Sciences Corp., which runs the testing program, said he specifically identified the drug in several conversations with the Sprint Cup driver over a three-day period after NASCAR suspended him. "I spoke with him about his positive test result on the day he was suspended, and I spoke to him directly about the test result," Black told The Associated Press. "Yes, by name of what he tested positive for." On Saturday, Mayfield said he was never told what drug caused the positive test and has yet to receive a copy of the results. Black said he was not sure if Mayfield has seen the test results because a copy would be issued by NASCAR, not Aegis. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said he was not aware of any request by Mayfield to obtain the results. "We'd be happy to provide one if he wants it," Poston said. "We've done this in the past upon request for those who tested positive." Mayfield maintains the use of a prescription drug with over-the-counter allergy medication Claritin-D led to his positive result. Black has repeatedly rejected that explanation.(Associated Press)(5-19-2009)
- Mayfield could pursue legal action:
#41-Jeremy Mayfield denied on Saturday that he took a substance that violated NASCAR's substance abuse policy and plans to do whatever he has to, even if that means legal action, to override his indefinite suspension. Mayfield, talking publicly for the first time since the governing body announced the suspension last Saturday at Darlington, denied he took an illegal drug and maintained that his positive test came from combining two over-the-counter Claritin D 24 hours with a prescription drug. "I'm going to move as quickly as I can," Mayfield said from the Lowe's Motor Speedway infield before Saturday night's All-Star race. "Yeah, I'm denying it. Illegal drugs? Yeah, definitely." The 39-year-old driver said he has no plans to go through the rehabilitation process that NASCAR says is necessary for reinstatement into the sport. "Why would I?" Mayfield said. Mayfield under the terms of the suspension was not allowed into the Cup garage. He attended the race as a spectator atop the National Guard hospitality hauler in the infield. "No suspended driver or crew member is permitted in any area of the track where NASCAR business or responsibilities are conducted," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "This includes, but is not limited to, the garage, spotters stand, pit road, driver/owner lot, and hospitality areas. There seems to have been a misunderstanding on Jeremy's part. NASCAR officials spoke with him and he understands the rules of suspension and agreed to comply."
Mayfield said Cup series director John Darby did not give him a reason for the suspension. He said Dr. Black told him the Claritin could have triggered the result. Black has vehemently denied that is a possibility. "Now it's not triggering it because I think they're a sponsor," Mayfield said of Claritin, one of the sponsors for Carl Edwards' #99 team. "I never got anything saying what it was, no result ever," Mayfield said. "I've not received any information. They told me I was indefinitely suspended from NASCAR. If I want to be reinstated see Dr. Black." Poston denied that.(ESPN)
"All NASCAR members who violate the policy, including Jeremy, are notified of the substance that caused the failure," league spokesman Ramsey Poston said [at Lowe's Motor Speedway Saturday night]. "Jeremy was verbally informed of the substance on three ocassions last week by NASCAR's medical review officer. NASCAR stands by the reputable physicians and the nationally reknown lab that handles our substance abuse program."(ESPN)(5-16-2009) Comment here
- NASCAR drivers would like list of banned drugs UPDATE NASCAR declines : #39-Ryan Newman wants to know what drug Jeremy Mayfield has been indefinitely suspended for and a list of all drugs that he could be tested for in the future. So do #83-Brian Vickers and #2-Kurt Busch. "I think everyone wants a list right now,'" Newman said Thursday night before the Pit Crew Challenge at Time Warner Cable Arena. Newman said he plans to discuss the situation with NASCAR. He believes there are enough drivers that want a list of drugs that are being tested for that they can present unified front and force the governing body to provide it moving forward. He is concerned because Mayfield said his positive test was the result of combining a prescription drug with an over-the-counter drug, a claim the doctor that evaluated the test denied. Newman said NASCAR has an obligations to the other 42 drivers on the track and "more importantly the fans" to clarify what happened. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said the policies of not having a list of banned drugs and not revealing what drug was taken could be reevaluated if enough drivers request it. Chairman Brian France is expected to address the policy on Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "The whole system would be fixed if they just told us what Jeremy did," Newman said.(ESPN)
UPDATE: NASCAR chairman Brian France called Jeremy Mayfield's positive drug test "a serious violation" of the sport's toughened new drug policy. France said Friday he considers performance-enhancers and recreational drugs to be serious violations. But a person familiar with Mayfield's test results told The Associated Press that Mayfield did not test positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
That means Mayfield tested positive for a narcotic or a controlled substance, such as cocaine, marijuana or methamphetamine. France would not reveal what Mayfield was caught using, despite a call from several drivers to disclose the drug. "We had a serious violation of our test, our substance-abuse policy, which gets you an automatic and indefinite suspension and that is where we stand with Jeremy," France said. "We've said it's serious." France tried to reassure the drivers, explaining proper use of over-the-counter medication and prescriptions won't lead to NASCAR punishment. "If you should test positive for over-the-counter medications or a prescribed medication that you are on with your doctor, that doesn't result in NASCAR suspending you," France said. "You will ... be asked to explain why you have a certain substance that was identified in a test. That's happened a lot, and it doesn't get you a suspension."(ESPN/AP)(5-15-2009) Comment here
- Mayfield allowed to drive after positive result: A day after learning #41-Jeremy Mayfield failed a drug test for something other than a performance-enhancer, NASCAR allowed him to drive a race car at Darlington Raceway at speeds up to 173 mph. A person familiar with the test results told The Associated Press on Thursday that Mayfield's positive test was not for a performance-enhancing drug. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because NASCAR won't reveal what banned substance was found in the random test, which ultimately resulted in Mayfield's indefinite suspension. Because Mayfield challenged the initial positive finding, as allowed under NASCAR's drug policy, the series did not take disciplinary action until his backup "B" sample also tested positive. That's why Mayfield wasn't barred from participating in two practice sessions and a qualifying session May 8 at Darlington. See the full Associated Press article at ESPN.com.(5-14-2009)
- Yeley to sub for Mayfield, No? Yes? UPDATE 3: J.J. Yeley will drive the #41 Toyota for Mayfield Motorsports starting this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Yeley replaces Jeremy Mayfield, who was suspended indefinitely from NASCAR on Saturday after violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy [see story below]. "We believe in J.J.'s talent," said crew chief Tony Furr. "He's available for every race. So we won't be changing drivers. J.J. has something to prove just like we all do. We want someone that's hungry just like us. Everybody on this team has at one time or another worked for a larger organization. We're all racers who are all hungry, who all want to make the most of second chances and J.J. sort of fits that mold." The team is expected to name an owner of record shortly.(FoxSports - link gone)
UPDATE: Who will replace the suspended Jeremy Mayfield? That's the question on everybody's mind after Tony Furr, crew chief of the #41 Jeremy Mayfield Motorsports entry, rescinded earlier comments to FOXSports.com that J.J. Yeley was tabbed for the position.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Shana Mayfield said no decision has been made but Yeley is on the short list. Mayfield was suspended indefinitely from NASCAR on Saturday after violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy. The team is expected to name an owner of record shortly, as Mayfield is not allowed to be owner of record during his suspension.(FoxSports)(5-11-2009)
UPDATE 2: also hearing that Todd Bodine and Mike Wallace are other candidates to drive the #41 Toyota.(5-11-2009)
UPDATE 3: Mayfield Motorsports will field a #41 Toyota for J.J. Yeley in this weekend's Sprint Showdown, the 40-lap qualifying race for the Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, with Shana Mayfield the owner of record following last weekend's indefinite suspension of her husband, owner/driver Jeremy Mayfield, for a violation of NASCAR's substance abuse policy. The Mayfields plan to file her owner's paperwork with NASCAR Competition on Tuesday morning, followed by the driver change. Crew chief Tony Furr and team manager Bobby Wooten along with their crew members compiled a "short list" of candidates Monday morning and when the Mayfields arrived, they met with the team and then, Yeley, before making their final decision. The new owner said Yeley also would drive the car in the following weekend's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's -- where Yeley finished a career-best second in 2007 -- and for what she and her husband hope will be a brief interlude as they resolve Jeremy Mayfield's positive drug test. "We didn't want to be switching drivers every week," Shana Mayfield said. "The thing about J.J. that we really liked is he lives close to the shop and he came over [Monday] while we were there. He told the guys it wasn't about money -- he just wanted to race, he wanted another chance like Jeremy did when he started the team." Shana Mayfield said her team is intact since Mayfield got the news of a positive result for "a drug of concern" in a random test given on Friday of the Richmond race weekend, followed by his "B sample," on Mayfield's request, also testing positive. Mayfield issued a statement this past Saturday at Darlington saying he believed the positive result came from a combination of a prescription drug and an over-the-counter allergy medication.(NASCAR.com)(5-12-2009) Comment here
- NASCAR disputes Mayfield's 'allergy' claim: #41-Jeremy Mayfield's assertion that use of two allergy medicines led him to run afoul of the series' drug policy is not plausible, the person charged with running the program told USA TODAY. "What we have is a clear violation of policy," said David Black, whose Tennessee-based Aegis Labs conducts NASCAR's random testing program. "In my many years of experience, I have never seen a violation like this due to the combination of over-the-counter or prescription products." Black, citing NASCAR policy, declined to specify what caused Mayfield to test positive, saying it was "a drug of concern." NASCAR announced before Saturday's race at Darlington Raceway that Mayfield [see story below] — the first driver tagged under the series' first-year mandatory testing program — had been suspended indefinitely. Mayfield couldn't be reached for comment Sunday. His agent, Bobby Wooten, said Mayfield was taking allergy medicine when the urine samples were collected at Richmond International Raceway a week ago. The series doesn't have a set list of banned substances, although drivers were warned before the start of the season that they would be screened for steroids, amphetamines and recreational drugs. Black said "there's no way a driver would be in violation" for using common cold and allergy medications as directed. "It's very unfortunate for the sport, for Jeremy, for everybody, because it definitely puts a black eye on (the sport)," four-time Cup champ Jeff Gordon said. Mayfield must complete a treatment program before he's allowed to return to racing. "If that program is successfully completed, then the competitor may attempt to seek reinstatement," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said in an e-mail. One of Mayfield's crewmembers, Paul Chodora, was the first violator of NASCAR's testing program in February. Mayfield said in a statement at the time that his team endorsed NASCAR's "policing efforts as it makes the sport stronger overall." Wooten said Chodora is no longer with the team.(USA Today)(5-11-2009) Comment here
- Mayfield, others suspended after violating substance abuse policy: Jeremy Mayfield, driver of the #41 Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Tony Martin, a licensed crew member with the #34 team in the Sprint Cup Series and Ben Williams, a licensed crew member with the #16 team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, have been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. All three were 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.[was not alcohol due to SPEED](NASCAR PR)
AND NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield has been suspended indefinitely after failing a random drug test. The result stems from a test last weekend at Richmond International Raceway. NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter will not reveal what banned drug Mayfield used. Hunter said it was not an alcohol-related offense. Mayfield failed to qualify for Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Darlington Speedway.
He is driving this season in a car he owns himself. Although he raced it into the season-opening Daytona 500, he has failed to qualify for six of the 11 other Sprint Cup events this season. Mayfield is the first driver suspended under NASCAR's improved substance abuse policy, which went into effect this season.(Associated Press)(5-9-2009)
Mayfield Statement: Statement from Jeremy Mayfield – Owner/Driver of the #41 Toyota Camry: “As both a team owner and a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, I have immense respect for the enforcement policies NASCAR has in place. In my case, I believe that the combination of a prescribed medicine and an over the counter medicine reacted together and resulted in a positive drug test. My Doctor and I are working with both Dr. Black and NASCAR to resolve this matter. Mayfield Motorsports remains committed to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the organization will announce an interim owner and a temporary replacement driver early next week. Those roles will commence immediately beginning with next week’s Sprint Open and continuing through Charlotte and beyond.”(Mayfield Motorsports)(5-9-2009) Comment here
- Mayfield featured in Music Video: NASCAR Media Group and Virgin Records rock quartet Saving Abel announced that the music video for the band's third single from their gold certified self-titled debut album debuted exclusively on Yahoo! on Thursday, April 30th. The NASCAR-themed video for "Drowning (Face Down)" stars Sprint Cup Series driver Jeremy Mayfield as an aspiring racer who makes great sacrifices for a chance to compete at the highest level. The driver has no sponsor and no endorsement deals, but pushes forward through all obstacles in pursuit of his racing dreams. "It was awesome and I can't wait until it comes out," said Jeremy Mayfield. "Just being a part of that was just cool for me. Those guys are great guys and I'm glad to see them coming up. I didn't really know them that well until we did the video and they have a lot of fun. It's funny how our story kind of fit their song and worked perfect for their video."
A five-time Sprint Cup race winner, Mayfield hasn't had a full-time ride in more than two years and decided to start his own team a month before the 2009 season began. Mirroring the music video's theme, Mayfield has started three races this year, including racing his way into the Daytona 500, and is trying to recapture some of his past successes. "We had a blast shooting the 'Drowning (Face Down)' video with Jeremy Mayfield and the other NASCAR drivers as we're all big NASCAR fans, said Saving Abel frontman Jared Weeks. We especially love how Jeremy's real life story mirrors the character he plays in the video." Parts of the music video were shot at Bristol Motor Speedway, as well as Mayfield Motorsports in Harrisburg, N.C., and it features cameos by drivers Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr., Brian Vickers and Clint Bowyer.(Mayfield Motorsports PR), see the video at new.music.yahoo.com.(5-5-2009)
- Smallsponsor.com joins up with Mayfield: Mayfield Motorsports is welcoming Small Sponsor.com to the #41 Toyota. Small Sponsor is providing businesses throughout the country with the opportunity to be part of the NASCAR sponsorship community. Small Sponsor.com has created a NASCAR Marketing phenomenon that provides small businesses with a way to benefit from 70 million people each week seeing the Small Sponsor logo which is an online portal linking directly to their businesses. "We are fortunate at Mayfield Motorsports to have Small Sponsor.com as a partner. We believe that this will give us the ability to step up our program and allow us to give Small Sponsor.com the marketing presence that they are looking for" says Jeremy Mayfield. Starting today [April 29th] and for the next 30 days, Small Sponsor will be recruiting thousands of people across the country to start a new and rewarding career in sports marketing advertising. Small Sponsor will be using its own unique business model to provide an opportunity for people to work in their local area and realistically earn $40,000 per year, while, at the same time, creating a whole new segment of official NASCAR sponsors. More info at SmallSponsor.com.(Mayfield Motorsports PR)(4-30-2009) Comment here
- Mayfield Featured in Music Video: Jeremy Mayfield depicts a small town racing hero in Saving Abel’s music video for the single “Drowning Face Down”. The video, shot today at Mayfield Motorsports in Harrisburg, N.C., was produced and directed by Camp Riley and Shaun Silva, respectively. The single was released last week, with the video debut scheduled for mid April. “It was really cool to be a part of this video,” said Mayfield. “I’ve done this sort of thing in the past, but this one really hits home because it’s a story that’s a lot like my own.” The video offers a portrayal of one man’s quest for greatness in the world of NASCAR, prompting fan support for his underdog racing organization – a state of affairs Mayfield knows well. “Considering we just started this team 52 days ago, I think it’s safe to say we know what it’s like to be an underdog in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,” added Mayfield. While the video primarily features Mayfield as the hard working driver, there are special cameos by fellow drivers Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr., Carl Edwards and Brian Vickers. Mayfield’s race shop offered the perfect setting for the video’s depiction of a small town garage in contrast to the typical big-team facilities. While Mayfield’s efforts represent the heart of every small racer across the country, the hopeful hero depicted in “Drowning” will strike a chord with race fans and the general public alike.(Co-Pilott PR)(3-20-2009) Comment here
- Sponsor troubles for Mayfield? UPDATE denied by co-owner/sponsor: sources have told Frontstretch that thanks #41-Jeremy Mayfield to missing races at both Las Vegas and Atlanta, and being outside the top-35 in owners points, funding from All Sport and Big Red, Inc. could be in jeopardy as soon as following this weeks race at Bristol. Clearly, this weekend could be a make or break deal regarding their partnership for the 2009 campaign. Representatives of Mayfield Motorsports, when contacted, offered no comment on this report.(Frontstretch)
UPDATE:response from All Sports Gary Smith: "All Sport remains dedicated to Mayfield Motorsports and driver Jeremy Mayfield,” said Gary Smith, Chairman and CEO of Big Red, Inc. and co-owner of Mayfield Motorsports. “As a company, All Sport made a long term partnership commitment and we are prepared to endure the highs and lows of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing. In the event that another sponsor comes on board with Mayfield Motorsports, All Sport will remain involved as a partner."(All Sport PR)(3-18-2009) Comment here
- New look for Mayfield: #41-Jeremy Mayfield will sport a new paint scheme at Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 500, brighter and more neon look. See the image of the scheme and Mayfield's hauler on the #41 Team Schemes page.(3-17-2009)
- Crew Member in Violation of NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy UPDATE: Paul Chodora, a licensed crew member in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. On Feb. 11, Chodora 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 Sprint Cup Series rule book.(NASCAR PR)(2-19-2009)
UPDATE: Chodora, who NASCAR confirmed was a member of Jeremy Mayfield's #41 Sprint Cup team Thursday, is the first person to be punished under the policy that was amended last season to mandatory preseason testing and random testing throughout the season. Kevin Harvick fired two members of his Truck Series team that failed drug tests given by his organization, not NASCAR, prior to the season. Mayfield's team was formed only a month ago and crew members were not all hired at the time of NASCAR's preseason testing in January. Chodora was given a license by the governing body to participate in Sunday's Daytona 500, then was tested and suspended after only a day and a half of work. Chodora has served previously as a front tire changer with Johnny Sauter's team.(ESPN)(2-19-2009)
STATEMENT: The following is a statement from driver/owner Jeremy Mayfield of Mayfield Motorsports regarding Paul Chodora, who was found to be in violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy: “Mayfield Motorsports respects the decision by NASCAR to indefinitely suspend Paul Chodora. We as an organization appreciate NASCAR's drug testing policies and policing efforts as it makes the sport stronger overall. If Paul doesn’t comply with NASCAR’s reinstatement process, then he will no longer be an employee of Mayfield Motorsports.”(Mayfield Motorsports/Co-Pilott PR)(2-19-2009) Comment here
- Mayfield's jackman injured UPDATE: The jack man for #41-Jeremy Mayfield's team was sent to a local hospital after being injured while working in the pits for another car during Thursday's first 150-mile qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway. Kyle Roland was taken to nearby Halifax Medical Center after suffering a reported shoulder injury while servicing the car of #27-Kirk Shelmerdine. He was awake and alert. "Our thoughts and prayers go out with him," said Mayfield, who formed his team less than a month ago, and raced his way into Sunday's Daytona 500. "Hopefully, he's OK. We'll be checking on him shortly. There again, I really don't know half the guys on our pit crew [Thursday], to be honest with you. I will get to know them because they did a great job and they're going to be with us quite a while." Roland's injury forced Mayfield's team to use their own substitute jack man for the second of the two events. They borrowed Steve King, a member of Michael Waltrip's #55 team. Mayfield finished ninth in the race [and qualified for the 500].(NASCAR.com)(2-13-2009)
UPDATE: Kyle Roland, the jackman for Mayfield Motorsports, was treated and released today from Halifax Medical Center. Roland was hospitalized for injuries sustained while pitting the car of Kirk Shelmerdine during Thursday’s first Duel race. An announcement regarding a temporary substitute for Roland during Sunday’s Daytona 500 will be made tomorrow.(Co-Pilott PR)(2-13-2009) Comment here
- Mayfield returns to full Cup ride, with sponsor: Jeremy Mayfield returns to NASCAR Sprint Cup competition in 2009 as both team owner and driver. Thanks in part to NASCAR and sponsor All Sport, Mayfield plans to field a full time entry in the series. He will assume driving duties of the team’s #41 entry beginning with the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. “Team ownership is something I’ve always wanted to pursue,” said Mayfield. “Things have really fallen into place this year with the NASCAR rule changes and with All Sport coming on board as a partner.” Mayfield’s ownership aspirations were given new life when NASCAR announced one key rule change for the 2009 season – a ban on testing at NASCAR sanctioned tracks. “I have to give NASCAR a lot of credit for the things they’ve done in the sport over the last two years to make it possible for people like me to get involved as a team owner,” continued Mayfield. “The new COT car and even more importantly the testing ban have made it a reality for me to come in and compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.” Mayfield will be joined in ownership by Gary Smith, Chairman and CEO of Big Red, Inc. and co-owner of Mayfield Motorsports. Smith’s All Sport brand will sponsor the team during the 2009 Sprint Cup season. “We are excited to continue our involvement in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series by teaming up with Mayfield Motorsports to sponsor the #41 All Sport Toyota,” said Smith. “All Sport has been a key partner in many auto racing sponsorships in the past and as a result, our plan is to capture the thrill of racing through in-store programs designed to get consumers excited about our connection to motorsports.” Mayfield’s level of commitment is bolstered by his dual role in the organization and supplemented by the support of a strong team with leadership provided by veteran crew chief Tony Furr. In addition, Mayfield will be utilizing Triad Racing Technologies engines and chassis to support his racing efforts. “Mayfield Motorsports is a collaboration of a lot of good people and friends of mine,” explained Mayfield. “With this opportunity, we we’re able to put a lot of people who were out of work back into a job, which has given everyone working here a real connection to the team. I grew up drinking All Sport, so to enter into a partnership with Gary Smith and to represent the brand is a fantastic opportunity for me. Auto racing is a very physically demanding sport and as a driver it is important for me to stay hydrated. All Sport gives me the hydration I need for a grueling race.” Mayfield’s plans may begin with the Daytona 500, but they have an undertone of endurance similar to what the driver has shown in his 20-year racing career. “We’re here for the long haul,” said Mayfield. “This isn’t something I’m going into with short term aspirations. Together with All Sport, we’re going to compete this year with the goal to build a solid team for many years to come.” For more info about All Sport see www.drinkallsport.com.(Co-Pillot PR)(2-3-2009) Comment here
- EGR close to naming driver for 4th car UPDATE 3 using #34?: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing will field a fourth entry -- the #41 Chevy -- in the Daytona 500 and expects to decide on a driver Monday, team president Steve Lauletta said Saturday before the start of the Rolex 24 Grand-Am race at Daytona. Lauletta said the choice had been narrowed to two drivers but declined to name them, though he did indicate that veteran Sterling Marlin was not among the finalists. "We're hoping by Monday," Lauletta said of the decision process. "We came close to making a final decision [Friday]. We need to work over the weekend and Monday, but it'll be pretty quick. Same thing with one of the sponsor deals we have done for Aric -- next week."(NASCAR.com / Sporting News)(1-25-2008)
UPDATE: John Andretti is expected to drive the fourth Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevy at Daytona. A technical alliance is in the works that would partner Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins and Andretti with EGR for Daytona and beyond, The car's number and sponsor should be announced later this week. Andretti, 45, who won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in 1997 driving for Cale Yarborough, has raced for Jenkins the last two seasons but would not comment on the current negotiations. Andretti admitted that after four seasons, Jenkins has wanted to expand his involvement in racing but wasn't entirely sure to what extent. "We're good friends and we work together on a lot of things," Andretti said of Jenkins. "(The future of the team) all depends on what Bob can do because sponsorship right now is limited." In 2009, Andrett's plans will not be limited to NASCAR. "The Indy 500 is not going to go off my radar screen," Andretti said. "I can't imagine not doing the Indy 500. I've had so much fun at Indy the last two years."(FOXSports)(1-27-2009)
UPDATE 2: hearing that the 4th team will use the #15 and the owners points from the #15 DEI team and be affiliated with Front Row Motorsports and supposedly the #34 Front Row Motorsports team will run with Tony Raines driving.(1-28-2009)
UPDATE 3: John Andretti will drive the #34 Window World Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevy in the Daytona 500 on February 15th.
Andretti will have a technical alliance that partners Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins and Andretti with EGR for Daytona and beyond, Ganassi sources confirmed on Friday. Window World [which was also announced as Terry Labonte's sponsor on the #66 Toyota], based in North Wilkesboro, N.C., is a residential replacement window company with more than 200 distributors nationwide. "The Daytona 500 is always exciting but to go down there with the bullet I have to drive and be surrounded by so many friends, that's really exciting," Andretti said. "I know what to expect from the engines having worked with Richie Gilmore (COO of Earnhardt Childress Racing Technology) at DEI and (engine builder) Rick Mann at Petty Enterprises. I know it's last minute, but it's not so bad. They've been preparing for this for a long time."(FoxSports), no word which of EGR's owners points will used for the #34 team, #15 or #41. No word if Front Row Motorsports will run a 2nd car for Raines as rumored or not.(1-30-2009) Comment here
- Mayfield to use #41: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's fourth car in the Daytona 500, the #34 Chevy, will actually involve a partnership with owner Bob Jenkins' Front Row Motorsports and one of its drivers, John Andretti. An EGR spokesman said the collaborative effort would be only for the Daytona 500, and that the car would be a guaranteed starter via points accrued in 2008 by one of EGR's cars that won't compete this season. Those include the #01 and #15 that were fielded last season by Dale Earnhardt Inc. and the #41 fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing. The #41 has been registered to Jeremy Mayfield in 2009 for his Mayfield Racing Enterprises, but the points didn't go with the number, according to a Mayfield spokesperson. EGR this season will field full-season efforts for the #1, #8 and #42 Chevrolets.(NASCAR.com)(1-30-2009)
- Many New Teams for 2009 UPDATE: NASCAR says that 15 new teams have submitted Sprint Cup cars to be certified this year. According to Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby and other recent announcements, those teams would include Tommy Baldwin Racing [#36 Toyota], TRG Motorsports [#71 Chevy], Nemco Motorsports [#87 Chevy], Mayfield Motorsports [?-Toyota], R3 Motorsports [#23-Chevy], Germain Racing [#13-Toyota]], Phoenix Racing [#09-Chevy] and others.(SceneDaily)(1-22-2009)
UPDATE: Jeremy Mayfield is among 15 people who have applied for ownership in the Sprint Cup series this season, NASCAR officials said on Thursday. Among the others are Tommy Baldwin, Joe Nemechek, Kevin Butler, Buddy Cisco and Larry Gunselman. A full list was not available. NASCAR officials have no idea how many races the teams will run or under what manufacturer they will run. Only Tommy Baldwin, a former crew chief, has said he plans to run a full season with Toyota support. "It could be a one-shot Hail Mary for the Daytona 500," Cup series director John Darby said of the others.
Mayfield, who made the Chase in 2004 and 2005 at Evernham Motorsports, is optimistic he'll be at next month's opener in Daytona Beach and many more races. "We've applied and we're 99.9% sure it's going to be a really, really good deal and work out for us," he said. "I always said I didn't want to own my own team. But everything that has come together, I feel like it's an opportunity I cannot do."
(ESPN.com)(1-23-2009)
- Mayfield to buy into Truck Team? Jeremy Mayfield told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway Monday that he is negotiating to purchase half of the Billy Ballew Motorsports Craftsman Truck Series team. "Billy and I have been talking for a while now," said Mayfield. "He's a great guy, and he has a great team. I'm not sure what's going to happen on the Cup side yet, but (NASCAR has) the Truck Series sponsor worked out now, and I know it's going to be around a while." Mayfield said the plan is for him to purchase the #15 team, with the truck still being fielded out of the Ballew shops. "I would run the #15 truck as a teammate to Billy's #51. Nothing's done yet, there are no details done. But it would be fun to go Truck racing. I've always wanted to own my own team, and if something comes up on the Cup side of things, maybe I'll do the deal anyway and put someone else in the Truck."(Sirius Speedway)(10-27-2008) Comment here
- Mayfield anxious to drive again: Jeremy Mayfield would gladly race Chip Ganassi Racing's #41 Sprint Cup car if asked, but whether that request will come is still to be determined. "Obviously I'd love to get in the car and drive next year for sure," Mayfield said Tuesday night. "It's a great race team with a great sponsor. … We'll see. I'm not going to let the pressure [mount]." Chip Ganassi Racing President Steve Lauletta said he expects Sorenson to finish out the season in the #41 car. "We put Jeremy in the test for today and tomorrow just to kind of get a baseline of a different feel of where we are, knowing that we need to get [our cars] running better," Lauletta said. "That's the only decision that's been made. We'll see how we do the next couple of days and Chip will revisit it and we'll go from there. But right now, Reed is running Kansas and there are no changes other than Jeremy doing this test for us." Mayfield said among his options for next year is possibly starting a truck team or going drag racing. "I feel like I've got something to prove yet," the 39-year-old Mayfield said. "I feel like I've got several years left to race."(SceneDaily.com)(9-24-2008) Comment here
- Mayfield hoping for another chance: Give him good equipment and Jeremy Mayfield believes he can return to the form that got him into the Championship Chase in 2004 and 2005 at Gillett Evernham Motorsports. Unfortunately for Mayfield, his phone is silent. His name is not on the short list of drivers to fill slots at Stewart-Haas Racing, Penske Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing. It's not there even though his credentials -- five wins, 96 top-10s and two trips to the Chase -- are better than at least half the drivers in the current 43-car field. "I'm the first one to admit I've made mistakes," he said. "Whether it's the Ray's deal and I talked too much or what happened at Penske. … It was little stuff. Nothing big, but it all adds up and that's why I'm sitting here today." Mayfield doesn't know how he's going to recover from the two worst years of his career, made worse by his father's death in 2007. He hopes when everything shakes out there'll be an owner with decent equipment willing to give him a chance. If not, he might start a Craftsman Truck Series team. "I've got to make a decision somewhere down the line to do that," he said. "But once you make that move you know you probably won't be back in Cup." And Mayfield wants to be back in Cup so badly that he's willing to work without a contract and for a percentage of his winnings without a guaranteed salary. He'd love for that to be at Penske. He said leaving that organization was the worst mistake he's made, slightly ahead of losing his friendship with Evernham.(ESPN.com)(7-20-2008) Comment here
- Mayfield goes on 12-day tour of Iraq; ride at Dover?: Jeremy Mayfield left May 6 for 12 days where even if he got offered another NASCAR ride, he wouldn’t be able to accept it until he returned. Mayfield took a 12-day tour of Iraq where he, along with a few drag racers, visited three to seven bases a day to talk to troops stationed over there. Mayfield said he was impressed with what the soldiers are currently doing in Iraq in trying to rebuild the country. “I thought it would be a depressing deal, but it really wasn’t,” Mayfield said in a phone interview Tuesday. “All the soldiers, everybody from the guy on the front line through the commanding general, was just really upbeat, in a great mood. Everything was positive. … What got me was how many people re-enlisted to come back over.” A two-time Chase participant, Mayfield drove for Haas CNC Racing for the first seven events this year before parting ways with the team. He has had a few talks with other teams, but when the idea was presented to him, he opted to go on the goodwill trip to Iraq. “It’s something I am proud to say I did,” Mayfield said. “It’s probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I met a lot of great people there. As far as my career, I’ll go from here and see what happens. The timing was perfect on it. I was sitting here not having a ride, and I went and did it. I think I made a difference. I think it was more important than waiting around hoping somebody calls me. It’s hard for me to sit here and tell you what it means to the guys over there.” Many of the soldiers wanted to talk about racing with him, but Mayfield couldn’t stay awake to watch the races with the troops, which were televised in the early morning at bases that had television capability. I couldn’t believe there were that many Mayfield fans over there to start with, and on top that there were so many huge NASCAR fans,” Mayfield said. “It definitely was a humbling experience.” The driver admitted he was a little nervous about making the trip. He would see troops going to and from combat. The group of racers would take Blackhawk helicopters to each base, going from Baghdad to remote outposts in northern Iraq. “There were things that go on like we all expect,” Mayfield said. “Every day, there’s some kind of maneuvers with some of the insurgents where they will cover up a bomb here or there, and once in a while one of those would go off. About every night or so, outside in the desert, three or four guys would launch a rocket over into a base, and 99.9 percent of those either don’t make it or get blown away. … Overall I felt secure, but you still wonder because it’s busy there 24 hours a day nonstop, so you never know when you lay down to go to sleep at night. I got pretty used to it.” Now back home, Mayfield seems willing to wait for the right opportunity to get back in a race car. A 15-year veteran of the sport with five wins, Mayfield feels as if he has something to offer to a team. “I was part of the reason why I don’t have one – I’d rather not have one than run like I was running every week,” he said. “I’ve come to realize that. I don’t want any pity. When you go to Iraq, you really understand the true meaning of feeling sorry for something when you go into one of the hospitals. There’s a lot of people have got it worse off than we do. Going over there was very humbling. It makes you look at life a little bit different.”(SceneDaily), supposedly Mayfield will run the #40 Dodge at Dover on June 1st.(5-21-2008)
- Mayfield wants to be in ride that can win, in any series: Jeremy Mayfield's not sure what's next, though as a racer he wants to race. But his choice, whether it's in Sprint Cup, Nationwide or the Craftsman Truck Series, is going to be something that can win. He's been there and knows he can get it done again. Right now, he's not sure how much time he'll be spending at racetracks in the short term. The conversations on future possibilities have been flowing in both directions, he said. But he won't be sitting still, either. When the Sprint Cup Series is at Richmond and Darlington, Mayfield will be part of an entourage touring United States military installations in Iraq and supporting the troops.(NASCAR.com)(4-17-2008) Comment here
- Mayfield out of the #70 ride UPDATE 2: Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway is reporting that Jeremy Mayfield is out as driver of the #70 Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet, and will be replaced by former Haas CNC driver Johnny Sauter, effective immediately.(4-7-2008)
UPDATE: Haas CNC Racing announced today that the team and Jeremy Mayfield have mutually agreed to part ways. The team is exploring several scenarios regarding a replacement driver. "Jeremy's proven resume behind the wheel of a Cup car was a real benefit to our team," team general manager Joe Custer said. "He stepped into the seat and did everything we asked him to and more. Ultimately, we were unable to provide him with the right balance, handling and speed he needed to be successful," he added. "We wish Jeremy nothing but the best for his future."(Haas CNC Racing)(4-8-2008)
UPDATE 2: Johnny Sauter told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway Tuesday that he is signed to drive the #70 only this weekend in Phoenix, but hopes to land the ride full-time. "We've got a week off after Phoenix," said Sauter, "so they've got a little time to look around and figure out what they want to do down the road."(4-9-2008) Comment here
