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Mayfield won’t make it back
Published Friday, July 3, 2009
Jeremy Mayfield went out a limb, a very long limb, by filing suit against NASCAR because of the drug-related suspension. Mayfield’s risky move paid off Wednesday when a federal judge in Charlotte, N.C., ruled in favor of Mayfield and granted an injunction. The ruling would allow Mayfield to return to the track as early as Saturday night in Daytona.
This is big news and sets a heavy precedent in not only NASCAR but in other professional sports. I don’t recall another situation similar to this where an athlete suspended for drug use fights back, and wins—at least temporarily.
You can bet NASCAR will not sit by idly and let this pass. This ruling can be appealed, and rest assured, the paperwork is in the works as you read this. The top dogs of NASCAR are not accustomed to losing, have deep pockets, and will go to great lengths to preserve that omnipotent power over their sport.
I don’t think there is any possible way that Mayfield will ultimately win in this situation; the damage has been done. Already there have been whispers by other racers of not wanting Mayfield on the track. When you are driving 200 mph mere inches away from another car, anyone would want to be safe in knowing nothing is clouding the judgment of the other driver.
I don’t know if Mayfield used meth, the drug that triggered the positive test, or if the positive was really a combination of a prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Only Mayfield himself knows for certain. But, I feel certain that no other car owner would dare put him in a car, and sponsors for a Mayfield personally owned team would be non-existent.
Mayfield can only hope that, if he fights this hard enough, NASCAR and its legal team will offer some sort of financial settlement. I don’t see that happening. And I would be shocked to see Mayfield on the track ever again.
At the halfway point in the season, driver movement, and rumored driver movement, is beginning to get wild. Expect an announcement next week that Martin Truex Jr. is finally leaving the Teresa Earnhardt circus and moving to Michael Waltrip Racing as Mikey’s full time replacement in 2010.
The annual Danica Patrick to NASCAR speculation is also picking up steam. This time there might be teeth to the rumor. Danica did nothing to dispel those rumors during a press conference several weeks ago.
One scenario making the rounds concerning Patrick involves Rick Hendrick. Here’s the deal: Dale Earnhardt Jr. would move his JR Motorsports up to the Cup level and bring Brad Keselowski up in the process. He would have a two-car team with full Hendrick support, identical to Tony Stewart’s deal this season.
That would open up a spot under NASCAR’s mandated four-team limit for Hendrick to hire Patrick and have her drive a full Cup schedule next season. Of course, all parties have denied such a plan, but it does make sense.
The Coke Zero 400 is Saturday night at Daytona, on the Fourth of July. My pick to win and avoid the “Big One” is Kyle Busch.
– Jeff Findley is a guest columnist for The Clanton Advertiser. His column appears each Weekend.
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Comments
Posted by kwsrgraves (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jeff, old friend, those aren't whispers. There were 4 affidavits stating that, if Mayfield did use "METHAMPHETAMINE" they would not race with him. However, they stated also, that he did not show any signs of "typical" meth "user" behavior. Mayfield is forever tarnished as a result of this incident. I have never been a fan of his. But, I do like to see the underdog fight the system and win. WHEN HE IS RIGHT. There definitely was a flawed testing procedure in this case, as the "B" sample seal was broken and could not be used for a secondary test. (Advantage Mayfield). But NASCAR is a privately, family owned, unique entity, therefore their testing procedure and subsequent banned substance is totally at the France family discretion. (Advantage NASCAR).
This is an unfortunate situation. And you can bet the sharks....er...lawyers WILL have the final say. And my favorite is the 2 CAR. But logic says, Tony Stewart.
Without qualifying, and the fact that this is an impound race, the outcome is 100% unpredictable.
Posted by REK1138 (anonymous) on July 4, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This entire incident is ridiculous and symptomatic of NASCAR's overall image problems as a whole. We're not talking performance enhancers here but hillbilly heroine, bottom of the barrel, live in a trailer on foodstamps to get high. Does it matter that the same ingredients in meth are found in every single over the counter anithistamine? Does it matter that a guy with millions in the bank could afford any number of safer more reliable ways to get high? Does it matter that Mayfield has shown no symptoms typical of a meth user? Does it matter that even NASCAR admits their testing policy is flawed? No, no, no and no. You are right, the damage is done on both sides. The real injustice is that NASCAR appears to have the media on their side and will shrug this incident off like they've done so many others. Mayfield's career is essentially over, as is his reputation, forever tarnished. One can only hope that a driver like Dale Jr. or Carl Edwards makes the fatal mistake of treating a case of nasal congestion with a few over the counter pharmaceuticals and something comes up in THEIR drug test - a driver the masses actually care about.
I would also put my money on Tony Stewart. He's won this race before and seems pretty much destined to win his third championship this year. Crazy to say that Mark Martin is the dark horse, but having never won on a restrictor plate track, a win for the old man would be huge.
And personally, I can do without anymore Dale Jr. drama. The guy needs to go off somewhere and try to rekindle the skills and desire that it takes to be a winning driver. I don't doubt that at one time Junior was as good as anybody but those days appear to be long since gone. Bringing his team up to Sprint Cup would be one more soap opera in a season of soap operas. Frankly, I think Keslowski would be a great fit for the fourth Hendrick driver if Junior were to be sent packing like so many Hendrick non-winners (and a few winners, ahem, Kyle Bush) in the past. But last time I checked, hell hadn't frozen over and pigs weren't flying.
Posted by REK1138 (anonymous) on July 4, 2009 at 11:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow - Tony Stewart is simply the greatest active driver today. When the rest of the world was ready to give Stewart-Haas a pass for the season and possibly the next Tony Stewart shrugged it off, put his head down and did what he does best, manage a season like no other driver. His wins are impressive, even more impressive his consistent string of top ten and top five finishes. Kyle Bush and Carl Edwards can learn a thing or two from Stewart, like the fact that maybe it's better in the long run to lose the lead on the last lap and finish second than to be turned into the wall trying to block a faster car and finish 20th. Stewart is not only on his way to his third championship but hands down the greatest achievement in NASCAR since the King posted his 200th win 25 years ago.
Posted by PrAaHe (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 12:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow. Is it just me or does the CA really love Mayfield?
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