Mayfield Suspension Talk

NASCAR suspends Sprint Cup driver under terms of drug policy

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

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

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

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

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Permalink Reply by alan4s on July 29, 2009 at 7:52pm
I know what you mean. I never cared for Jeremy one way or the other, and thought he was pretty dumb in how he handled the whole Evernham issue. But I can't help think that he's getting railroaded on this issue.

That's probably saying a lot about our perception of NASCAR as an organization, isn't it?
Permalink Reply by Blues on July 29, 2009 at 8:00pm
You can bet on it! Bring on the one legged midgets!
Permalink Reply by Hummer Time on August 2, 2009 at 6:06pm
Updated: July 28, 2009, 4:53 PM ETMayfield trial set for Sept. 2010
By David Newton

ESPN.com


CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jeremy Mayfield's lawsuit against NASCAR has been set to be heard in a trial jury beginning on Sept. 13, 2010, according to court documents filed on Tuesday.

Mayfield

The date was ordered by U.S. District Judge Graham Mullen.

Mayfield was suspended by NASCAR on May 9 after testing positive for methamphetamines, a violation of the substance abuse policy. The suspension was lifted by Mullen in June, but reinstated by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals last week.

Mayfield contends he did not take methamphetamines and is seeking to be fully reinstated. He also is seeking damages.

In its most recent filing seeking that the suspension be permanent as long as the case is pending, NASCAR said it has several witnesses willing to testify that Mayfield took methamphetamines. Attorneys already have filed an affidavit from Mayfield's stepmother saying Mayfield has taken amphetamines since 1998.

David Newton covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at dnewtonespn@aol.com
Permalink Reply by Dave on August 2, 2009 at 6:19pm
I am not going to judge Jeremy, only he can do that. He does show some classic signs of addiction. He's burned a few bridges in his time....and possibly denial....and what about that "Big Deal" he talked about right about the same time he was suspended again? Was he being real?
Permalink Reply by Hummer Time on August 2, 2009 at 10:00pm
I really don't know what to make of Mayfield anymore.

From day one of this drama Mayfield has just continued to make the hole that he is in deeper and deeper.

I'm no expert on Lawyers but , Isn't the very first thing that they advise you to do is...Keep your mouth SHUT!

Clean or dirty , Mayfield is a mess!

Then there's..................NASCAR contends Mayfield lied about test chronology
By The Associated Press
July 28, 2009
01:03 PM EDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR accused Jeremy Mayfield of lying to a federal court about the chronology of a second random drug test, offering to provide an audio tape of the conversation in which Mayfield was told to submit a sample. The driver says the telephone call went to voicemail.

The accusation came Monday in court filings that ask U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen to lift the July 1 injunction he granted Mayfield so he could return to racing.

MayfieldNASCAR disputed the sworn testimony Mayfield provided to U.S. District Court last week, including the assertion that a July 6 request for a second drug test went to his voicemail at 1:18 p.m. He said he didn't get the message until about 40 minutes later, making it difficult for him to meet the two-hour deadline to report for testing.

NASCAR provided a transcript of the actual conversation between Mayfield and Regina Sweeney, an employee of Aegis Sciences Corp., which runs NASCAR's drug-testing program. NASCAR said it would provide the recording upon request.

"I'm calling on behalf of NASCAR who has requested that you take a drug test today within the next two hours ... and I was going to help find you a location that you could go to based upon where you are right now," Sweeney said in the transcript.

"Right, well I'm gonna have to -- let me talk to my attorney first. ... So, and I'll get back with you," Mayfield is quoted as replying.
According to Mayfield's affidavit from last week, he was in a meeting and did not receive the message until 2 p.m. and it was 2:44 p.m. when he was finally told which labortatory to go to -- making it impossible for him to meet the testing deadline.

"Mayfield appears to have completely "forgotten" that he had a live conversation with Ms. Sweeney ... in which she advised him he could go to a testing place ... the address of which Mayfield did not take down because he wanted to talk to his attorney first," the filing said.

NASCAR also accused Mayfield of lying when he told the court he was instructed to return to his home at 5 p.m., where he waited almost three hours for NASCAR representatives to collect a sample.

"This account is contradicted by Mayfield's counsel, who claimed that at 5:32 p.m., Mayfield was still driving around Concord, looking for the testing location," the filing said. NASCAR submitted e-mail exchanges between Mayfield attorney John Buric and its counsel to contradict Mayfield's claims.Buric did not immediately return a request for comment.

Mayfield was suspended May 9 for failing a random drug test taken eight days earlier for what NASCAR has said was a positive test for methamphetamines. The driver sued, and Mullen lifted the suspension based on the argument that NASCAR's testing system is flawed.

NASCAR has asked Mullen to reverse the injunction based on new evidence -- the failed July 6 test, and sworn testimony from Mayfield's estranged stepmother that she witnessed him using meth at least 30 times through the years.

An appeals court last week issued a ruling that put Mayfield back under suspension, but the request to reverse the injunction is one of the unresolved legal challenges before Mullen.

NASCAR's filing Monday also contends that in addition to the eyewitness account from Lisa Mayfield, it has several other witnesses willing to testify about Mayfield's methamphetamine use if subpoenaed.

"Mayfield has apparently contacted at least one witness to convince the witness that despite her recollection, he never used drugs," the filing said.

Mayfield from here on out needs to just SHUT UP! Let his Lawyer do his job.
Permalink Reply by rick on August 27, 2009 at 6:09pm
September 2010 court date? If Jeremy is innocent wouldn't he want and have the right to a speedy trial?
Permalink Reply by Eric Appleby on August 29, 2009 at 7:51pm
A September 2010 court date does represent a speedy trial in the federal court system.

When this is all over, it is going to make one hell of a mini-series.

I have no opinion one way or the other about Mayfield.
But, he has a hot wife.
Permalink Reply by alan4s on August 30, 2009 at 8:24am
The right to a speedy trial is guarenteed for criminal casses. This is a civil case between NASCAR and Mayfield - there have been no criminal charges brought against either party.
Permalink Reply by Eric Appleby on August 30, 2009 at 7:18pm
Yup, civil cases take a lot longer.

It's hard to believe Mayfield has been a meth addict for years.
It would have come out before this.
Permalink Reply by Bryan Zeigler on August 31, 2009 at 12:16am
Whats there to talk about?
Permalink Reply by rick on October 14, 2009 at 9:44pm
JC France, grandson of Bill France, founder of NASCAR and son of Grand-Am founder Jim France, and a regular driver in Grand-Am's Rolex Series, was arrested last week in Daytona Beach in company with his reported house mate, Russell Van Richmond, on suspicion of driving under the influence and drug-related charges. Both men were subsequently released on bail, but NASCAR – which owns Grand-Am – subsequently issued a statement saying that France would be suspended from all competition.

“JC France was arrested last night in Daytona Beach, Fla, for driving under the influence. He was also charged for possession of cocaine,” NASCAR acknowledged. “JC is a driver in Grand American Road Racing series. Grand-Am has issued a penalty notice and suspended JC indefinitely from all competition for actions detrimental to racing. The penalty is not appealable.”

With France unavailable for the Rolex Series' season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, veteran Hurley Haywood was drafted in to replace him in the Brumos team's Porsche Riley – and proceeded to win the race in company with the team's other regular driver, Joao Barbosa.

Coming after the controversial suspension of NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield's suspension for suspected drug-related offenses earlier this year, NASCAR (which owns Grand-Am) made clear in its statement that it intends to follow the same procedures with the grandson of the company patriach.

“JC is being treated like any other competitor. His suspension is immediate and indefinite,” NASCAR's statement concluded.
Permalink Reply by WJM on October 14, 2009 at 10:28pm
A member of the "Coke Family of Drivers?"

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