[Team Yates]

Mayfield defends himself in interview; considering selling team: UPDATE: Suspended Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield has broken his silence, vehemently denying allegations of drug use and adamantly defending himself from recent NASCAR claims in an exclusive interview with ESPN. "Every time there's an action [by NASCAR], there's going to be a reaction. From here on out," Mayfield said in a phone interview Wednesday from his home in Statesville, N.C. "I try to be nice. I try to be respectful to them. I try to do everything right. But I'm not getting drug through the mud no more." Mayfield repeated his stance that he never took methamphetamine. He also said he no longer consumes alcohol, largely due to the fact, he said, his father was a "bad alcoholic." Asked if he had ever taken illegal drugs, Mayfield responded, "What are you calling illegal? I've drank beer. I don't drink beer at all anymore. I don't drink. Don't do anything." He said he feels as though NASCAR is attempting to make an example of him. "I feel like that's exactly what they thought I was going to be. Exactly. To a 'T,'" Mayfield said. "Now, all the sudden, Brian's [France, NASCAR Chairman] coming back saying, 'Well, we have positive tests all the time.' Well, if it's a zero-tolerance policy, how in the hell do you have people testing positive all the time? "Then he comes back and says there's a list. I forget what big word he used -- an exhaustive list of drugs. Everybody in the world has asked him why the drivers don't have a list. What did he say? Now there's a list -- an exhaustive list. Right? Where's it at?" Mayfield broke his silence in response to accusations by NASCAR on Wednesday that he had purposely delayed taking a drug test by more than seven hours on Monday. The comments infuriated Mayfield, who said he was sent on a "wild goose chase," and was given just 18 minutes to get to a NASCAR-appointed lab to undergo testing. "I wasn't running or hiding from anybody, because I don't have to," he said.(ESPN.com)(7-9-2009)
UPDATE: Unable to find funding since his suspension for failing a random drug test, Jeremy Mayfield is considering selling his race team. Shana Mayfield said Thursday she and her husband are considering selling their remaining inventory because they don't have the cash to field a race team. Mayfield transferred ownership of the #41 Toyota to his wife following his May 9 suspension. "We are looking at all options at this point, since we cannot get sponsorship," Shana Mayfield said.(Associated Press), for Mayfield's timeline of events, NASCAR's decision to appeal, and all the previous information on the Mayfield issue, see the NASCAR Substance Abuse News page.(7-10-2009)

[Lefturn]

Sad situation really. NASCAR handled the whole deal badly, Mayfield left just enough 'doubt' on the table with his delay to the lab.

It is my belief that Mayfield is not a drug user, however, his reputation is tarnished beyond repair and I don't think he will ever get another ride in a NASCAR sanctioned series. Perhaps he can run elsewhere.

IF I was driving in NASCAR I would worry that what happend to Mayfield might one day happen to me. I would be getting myself tested and have records of non-drug use and a paper trail so that if something like this happend, I could present my defense immediately and have evidence of it.

Now, all the sudden, Brian's [France, NASCAR Chairman] coming back saying, 'Well, we have positive tests all the time.' Well, if it's a zero-tolerance policy, how in the hell do you have people testing positive all the time?

I would like to see something to back this up and who might have tested positive and why they were not immediately suspended. Something smells here....

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Lefturn

Now, all the sudden, Brian's [France, NASCAR Chairman] coming back saying, 'Well, we have positive tests all the time.' Well, if it's a zero-tolerance policy, how in the hell do you have people testing positive all the time?

I would like to see something to back this up and who might have tested positive and why they were not immediately suspended. Something smells here....

I believe that the above statement, as to common positive tests, could well be true. But, LT, you left off one important thing in the quote; "Mayfield said." As far as I, and I believe a lot of other followers of the sport feel, Mayfield doesn't have much more credibility than does NA__AR.

Sorry. This whole thing is starting to look like an Abbott and Costello comedy of errors. It has all the integrity of an O.J. trial parity with the only thing lacking being a low-speed chase in a white SUV, Kato Kaelin and a black glove.

[MikeRaceDayTek]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Sorry. This whole thing is starting to look like an Abbott and Costello comedy of errors. It has all the integrity of an O.J. trial parity with the only thing lacking being a low-speed chase in a white SUV, Kato Kaelin and a black glove.

"If Chewbaccha is a Wookie, you must acquit"!!!!

[flflash47]

Originally Posted by Lefturn

Now, all the sudden, Brian's [France, NASCAR Chairman] coming back saying, 'Well, we have positive tests all the time.' Well, if it's a zero-tolerance policy, how in the hell do you have people testing positive all the time?

I would like to see something to back this up and who might have tested positive and why they were not immediately suspended. Something smells here....

The interesting thing about using quotes comes when the entire context of the statement is not displayed.
The following is Not a Direct quote but is the Rest of the quote used above.

France said the idea that NASCAR lacked a banned substances list was "carelessly" thrown around and incorrect. He described a "very scientific" list that describes hundreds of drugs. Then he explained why NASCAR thinks that list can't be exclusive if it's to be effective.
"You can abuse a lot of things," France said. "And there are also drugs that we are not aware of that hit the street that are created. So by definition, we are not going to have an absolute list of things."
In addition to defending the validity of NASCAR's policy, France also indirectly addressed Mayfield's claim that the positive test was a result of a mixture of the prescription drug Adderall-XR and allergy medication Claritin-D.
France said the number of positive tests far exceeds the number of suspensions. NASCAR is flexible, he said, if a legitimate explanation exists.


I find it interesting that NASCARs drug testing policys are based on what the NFL has been using for years ( even to the point of using some of the same testing personel/facilitys ) ......yet there seems to be so many comments about how haphazard/unfair/Wrong it is?

[Bob Tanner]

I agree flash. Sound bytes and out-of-context quotes are almost always a problem. But, cynic that I am, personally I still have problems with the way this Mayfield thing has gone down.

The first problem is history and the way NASCAR tried to run rough shod over Tim Richmond (and still is with their HOF rule as to a mandatory ten year record in NASCAR which has eliminated Richmond from ever being nominated but apparently had no affect on Joe Weatherly and Red Byron?) twenty years ago.

The second problem I have is the fact that it was Mayfield (whom I personally don't care for the way he has conducted himself during his career). I believe, to the depths of my heart, that NA__AR would have handled, or more probably swept completely under the rug, any similar case IF it were to involve one of their "marquee " drivers.

Speaking only for myself, that it the major heartburn I have with this Mayfield matter.

And, for the record, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if Mayfield is as guilty as sin. It would fall in line with the multiple other examples of him "shooting himself in the foot," as to damaging his own career. That also falls in line with typical addictive behaviour.

[flflash47]

Bob, I cant agree with you more although I believe the media has spent an inordinate amount of time undermining NASCARs Drug Testing Policy's and Mayfeild's responses to it.
The first of which were the demands for NASCAR to state what Drug/Drugs Mayfeild tested positive for. A direct Legal/Medical/Ethical conflict for both NASCAR and Mayfeild ( which Mayfeild and his legal team has used to their advantage in the press ) No Drug Testing results can be released without BOTH parties consent, both NASCAR and Mayfeild declined consent on advice from their respective legal consouls.
The Second Big issue is the so-called List of banned substances. To my knowledge no Drug Abuse Policy in use ( Sports/Goverment/Business ) has such a list. Due to the development of drugs being an on going science ( legal and illegal ) and the possibility of combinations of multiple drugs causing adverse effects, even the excessive use of legal drugs can even cause problems. How could you possibly produce a Black and White list under such circumstances?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by flflash47

Bob, I cant agree with you more although I believe the media has spent an inordinate amount of time undermining NASCARs Drug Testing Policy's and Mayfeild's responses to it.
The first of which were the demands for NASCAR to state what Drug/Drugs Mayfeild tested positive for. A direct Legal/Medical/Ethical conflict for both NASCAR and Mayfeild ( which Mayfeild and his legal team has used to their advantage in the press ) No Drug Testing results can be released without BOTH parties consent, both NASCAR and Mayfeild declined consent on advice from their respective legal consouls.
The Second Big issue is the so-called List of banned substances. To my knowledge no Drug Abuse Policy in use ( Sports/Goverment/Business ) has such a list. Due to the development of drugs being an on going science ( legal and illegal ) and the possibility of combinations of multiple drugs causing adverse effects, even the excessive use of legal drugs can even cause problems. How could you possibly produce a Black and White list under such circumstances?

Two points of your post which jumped right out at me, flash. Last one first:

You reference to list was what I meant when I questioned Mayfield's use of the term "exhaustive list." At best it's ambiguous and at worse it's an oxymoron. More probable, Mayfield had only a vague idea of what "Exhaustive" meant, in the context in which he used it.

The first is a fact which becomes clearer and clearer seemingly every day; the media ain't necessarily our friend.