Posted on 05/10/2009 7:41:55 AM PDT by Peter Horry
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Jeremy Mayfield was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR on Saturday for failing a random drug test, becoming the first driver to violate a toughened new policy that went into effect this season.
Mayfield tested positive for a banned substance last weekend at Richmond International Raceway.
"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," Mayfield said in a statement. "My doctor and I are working with both Dr. (David) Black and NASCAR to resolve this matter."
Black is the CEO of Aegis Sciences Corp. in Nashville, Tenn., which runs NASCAR's testing program.
NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter would not reveal what banned substance Mayfield used, but Hunter said it was not an alcohol-related offense.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
He's quite simply a knuckle-head.
He can kiss his career bye-bye.
I wasn’t aware he was still in NASCAR. Haven’t heard anything about him in years.
Nice to see Mark Martin showing the kids how to get it done at 50 years old though. Two wins this season isn’t too shabby for a “retired” driver.
This effectively puts him out of NASCAR, not just a suspension of driver status. He’ll have to go find another line of work.
Devil is in the details. I don’t know if the agreement requires NASCAR to double verify using the extremely pricey but gold standard test of gas chromatography if there is a question about presence of a drug. Chemical tests can and do give misleading results.
Most drug programs use screening methods, but generally when there is a hit, they will do more sophistigated testing prior to handing out sanctions.
I heard Nascar is in trouble. Is that true? I heard severe drop in attendance and lost sponsors. I find this hard to believe but they mentioned it on either Fox News or Bill O’Reilly. They said 2004 was their heyday and since has faded some.
I don’t think they’re in any real danger of disappearing anytime soon. They’re dropping ticket prices here at Michigan this season but they still draw a pretty much sell out crowd. It’s all tied in with the general economy. It looks like the individual teams contract more than NASCAR as a whole.
No trial, but this writer from FoxNews has him convicted. I believe he is alleged to have used.
WHen will the madness end?
Seems like someone got caught taking some kind of testosterone last season but it turned out that it had to do with some sort of disease he had. Testosterone shots were part of the standard treatment.
I’m an extremely casual NASCAR fan, but from what I’ve heard on the radio, it seems that the Chase has changed the fan interest for the worse because it devalues the races prior to the Chase. I don’t remember who was saying it, but he was saying that there needs to be more given to the leader going into the Chase in order to get fan interest back up.
You’re right, there are many OTC drugs that can result in a positive drug test. For instance, if you have a cold, and take Sudafed before a drug test, you could test positive for amphetamines. That’s why it’s important, if you have to take a random test to inform the tester of anything (supplements or OTC stuff) you’ve taken in the previous week.
I would think that there would be some reporting responsibility on the part of the drivers to notifiy NASCAR that they were prescribed meds of any kind for just in case that they got random tested, that it was on record. A company that I used to manage required all employees to come by the office and disclose any prescriptions. If they got random tested positive, then we pulled the personnel file and checked. If there was a prescription that could have interferred, then they were allowed to finish the prescription and put on regular testing for a period of time afterwards. Failure to have a prescription on file was final.
I am so glad I am self-employed. I am also an employer. I don't care if my employees smoked a blunt last night, or downed a case of PBR. I cannot justify the intrusion on personal liberty.
As for me, it's Glenfiddich (or similar) and an Acid Def Sea! Bust me if you want! I SMOKE IN MY HOUSE!
The big issue that NASCAR is facing is not from the fan base, but the auto makers: GM, Ford, and Dodge. They are severely cutting back on sponsorship; I think it is still yet to be felt in the garage, but I think we will see big changes before next year.
'The Chase,' as someone else mentioned has its supporters, and detractors. I am on the fence about it though. By the time 'The Chase' arrives the top 12 teams are pretty much set, so it is not likely in a scenario where all teams could compete for the championship that someone below the 12th position could mount a charge and win the Cup.
NASCAR is still selling out races. It may be at a slightly reduced rate, but certainly not much. My cheap-seat at Texas Motor Speedway for the spring race cost me $112.00, and I assure you that was a cheap seat.
Damn. I thought NASCAR was blue collar. I guess they are as elite as everything else. No wonder politicians were kissing their butts. Sorry but 112 dollars for a ticket in the bleed section is insane. Oh and it does not surprise me that they are losing money (even a little) with those prices.
Agreed. Incredible endurance for a driver his age, especially in a brutal race like Darlington
Did NASCAR change its rules? Seems I remember a few drivers, Hmiel and Grubb off the top of my head, who tested dirty a couple times before they were suspended indefinitely. I don’t think Mayfield has tested dirty before, so this seems to be a little extreme. Admittedly, I would not want to be doing 185 mph next to a guy who isn’t thinking clearly, so I understand NASCAR’s thinking.
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