With every twist and turn of the NASCAR versus Jeremy Mayfield warfare, opinions become stronger. Writers and bloggers rushed to their computers on Wednesday following NASCAR’s announcement that Mayfield failed a second drug test, as the results indicated dangerous levels of methamphetamines. The results of NASCAR’s test differ from the two additional tests Mayfield took the same day, which triggers even more perplexity into an already confusing and curious case.
Jeff Hammond of FoxSports is one of the most respected media members in NASCAR. He is as clever behind the microphone as he was as a crew chief; however, I feel he may have written this article regarding Mayfield in haste. His article entitled ‘Mayfield needs to go away and get help’ clearly showed that he trusts NASCAR, as well as the stepmother Lisa Mayfield, which is understandable. Nevertheless, in this back and forth battle of hearsay, it would have been wise for
ESPN’s Terry Blount was another big player in NASCAR media that jumped on the NASCAR bandwagon against Mayfield. His article entitled ‘Mayfield running out of good will’ was even more direct than
Numerous articles rapidly surfaced over the internet trashing Mayfield. One that stands out to me was ‘It wasn’t Jeremy, it was the one-armed man’ by Dennis Michelsen of Race Talk Radio. Now, I have the utmost respect for Mr. Michelsen. In fact, he reached out to me several years ago when I first started covering NASCAR and invited me to participate in his top 20 power rankings poll. However, I have a hard time with this particular article. It seems to be more of an attempt at humor as opposed to a true unbiased analysis of the unfortunate situation. I think his mind was made up about Mayfield a long time ago. Everybody has an opinion, as writers, it is our job to put it in writing, which is what Hammond, Blount, Michelsen, and others did. Their opinions have validity.
By now, everyone knows that this case is far from over, and I am continuing to analyze the case with an open mind. My stance remains the same. I want to believe that Mayfield is innocent. I have given him the benefit of the doubt several times. However, I am not one hundred percent convinced that he is innocent. I want to believe that NASCAR would not go to such great lengths to destroy a man and his family just to avoid the exposure and embarrassment of a severely flawed drug testing policy.
I want to believe that NASCAR’s drug policy is for the benefit of the drivers and fans, and that it is fair and impartial. I am by no means convinced. I would like to believe that if Mayfield had a dangerous addiction such as Meth, he would have confessed by now and pursued professional assistance and counseling.
Mayfield is staunchly proclaiming his innocence. He is not backing down. He has participated in exclusive interviews with ESPN’s Marty Smith, Sirius Satellite Radio’s Nate Ryan and Buddy Baker, as well as Fox News in
He has a camera crew following him, documenting his every move. He is calling out NASCAR’s bigwigs. Why is he doing all of this? Would someone guilty of a drug like Meth even have the energy to fight this mammoth of a fight? I have a hard time believing that a Meth head would go to such great lengths. I do not know much about drug addiction, but from my understanding, drugs are on the top of your priority list. Nothing is more important than the ‘next high’. It seems to me that Mayfield’s priority is beating NASCAR.
As far as his stepmother is concerned, that appears to be a dysfunctional family squabble. I am not sure of the legitimacy of her claims.
I am not trying to convince everyone that Mayfield is innocent, because I have my doubts too. Nonetheless, Mayfield has lost everything already, his team, his career, his reputation with the fans and drivers, as well as a lot of money. He has nothing left to lose. NASCAR, on the other hand, has more to lose.
I am sure there will be more twists and turns regarding this curious case. Stay tuned, folks.
Comments
Thanks for a level-headed column. Hammond came off like a NASCAR lackey with his. Personally, I am withholding judgement until I see if Jeremy can provide credible evidence of negative tests and/or the B sample is tested by an independent lab.
I'm with you, Dave.
Mayfield passed two independent tests but failed NASCAR's.
Wonder what gives with that?NASCAR's "politics" have finally caught up with them, in my opinion.
That opinion comes from a fan who has been following the sport since 1976.
Thank you for finally being an unbiased reprter. Everyone has dug this mans reputation and career through the mud and for what? I truely believe that there indeed was a negative test; however I am convinced that it was a result of addreal and clariton- I mean they use clariton to make meth so.In my opinion NASCAR rushed their decision and by the time they realized what had happened it was too late. Too save face the must continue with this test and hoped Jeremy would back down. He didn't, he hasn't and trust me HE WON"T!!!! What meth head has 96 top 10's and 5 wins in the time period they are saying.Jeremy has gotten screwed several times in his Nascar career. Being pushed out of Penski racing for Ryan Newman (who they eventually let go) His fall-out at EvernSCAM racing due to Kasey Kane, Jeremy's objection of Ray and Erin Crockers relationship. Then he gets bounced around from crappy teams to another. Then this because ASSCAR can't admit they made a mistake. The TRUTH will be known!!
I totally agree. I thought in our country one is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The convoluted drug testing by NASCAR is a joke and other sports laugh at NASCAR's alleged drug policy. The results are HIGHLY questionable. Jeff Hammond will say or do anything to protect his job. That last thing he would ever do would be to badmouth NASCAR. Besides that would be hard with his head up Brian France's butt.
I'm leaving the door open for things to swing either way, but I will say this: I do not trust NASCAR.
Jeff Hammond is a paid assassin for nascar,and along with all the ex crew chiefs and any other so so journalist that came from the inside ranks of nascar. they will only write what Brian France allows them to and always side with who butters their bread.
I think he is innocent.
i want to believe nascar is right, but in the case that they are wrong i hope mayfield brings them pain in ways they never dreamed this whole thing just doesent make sense. screw nascar i've been wacthing it since 1980 and if mayfield is right this will kill nascar
like hammond has any say in this that freakin looser eats steriods for breakfast
Jeremy is even accusing his step mom of shooting his dad in the heart and that she's a murderer. If thats true then why doen't he have his dad's case re-opened, with DNA let Jeremy prove its true.
The entire family is screwed up big time, and I agree with the one reporter asked Jeremy - "why would NASCAR waste their time on a small fish like you?" I also read that he avoided the July test for 7 hrs and when they finally got the sample it was so dilluted it was pathetic.
Don't forget he was initially busted with two other NASCAR team employees that said the 3 of them did it together.
I know NASCAR would not run the risk of loosing millions and millions of dollars on this dried up old hack of a driver.
He had to be on something to get a car and team ready for Daytona this year in less than 3 weeks. Must have been all the 5 hr.energy's he was drinking! HA! HA!
Should be interesting
Thank you Jeremy for your column.
Have you had a chance to read the book, Dirt under the asphalt by Jack Flowers? It's a great book and even talks about good Ole' Brian and his rehab and drugs also.
Lots of great info in there. you can go to the web site and even download an online version for 5.00.
I have to say it was the best 5.00 I've ever spent on anything in Nascar.
OMG! Just finished reading Dirt under the asphalt by Jack Flowers and it was to say the least very informative and a must read for all. I can't help but think and say if anything happens to Jeremy his wife or anyone close to them, people need to look to Nascar. Because from what I have read it seems they have made people disappear. All I can say is everyone should read this book. Also from reading the book I gather they are very powerful all the way to Washington. This book will not disapoint.
Good article.
@socalracegirl -- the timeline has been debated. NASCAR says he dodged for 7 hours. Jeremy says he had 18 minutes once he got notification.
Also, wherever you got the info about being busted w/two others that said they did it with him, you should avoid that source. WAY wrong. There here was no disclosure about what the two others tested positive for which means they most certainly didn't admit to doing meth with JM.
When did we all forget"innocent until PROVEN guilty" ? Unless we have all become scumbag,ambulance chasing lawyers lets give the old tried and true system a chance. Stranger things than Mr. Mayfield actually being innocent have happened unless we have forgotten. Brian France never hit parked cars while driving, O.J. was "innocent" and Baretta did'nt do it.I know those are garbage as far as the truth goes but you have to admit that the legal system does not always work the way it should so maybe we need to take a step back and actually wait for ALL the evidence to come out before we pass judgement. If it is indeed proven that J. Mayfield is a druggie then I will supply the rope but until then why don't we all take a deep breath and consider all the facts first?
anyone remember the way NASCAR treated Tim Richmond?
I'm 95% sure ASSCAR,I like that name, dug a hole too deep, and is trying to cover its butt, his fathers wife said she saw him take meth 30 times, I had a friend addicted to drugs, he always went to other rooms or would dissapear for a while, never in front of me, but you could tell he was high, he's been clean the last 2 years, her discription just doesn't make sense, addicts are very paranoid, for good reason, you don't do or make meth like you were mixing a martini, you hide, her discription is just nuts. I never rooted for Jeremy, but I think he and Carl Long are being run out of ASSCAR, I hope Jeremy makes big money from a justified lawsuit. and Jeremy when you do, help Carl Long get back on the track, that would just P#$s off the Frances, hahaha
Good article Jeremy, glad to see someone still has some integrity. I try not to lower myself with these people but Hammond and that socalracegirl are idiots and ASSCAR, I like that!!
Dirt Under the Asphalt by Jack Flowers is a must read for anyone following this story! I just finished reading the book (40 pages and worth the $5 download) and it gives a bit more insight to the inner workings of NASCAR! reading it might help answer the "Why would NASCAR go to such lengths to ruin a competitor?" question that many seem to want to ask!
Why doesn't Nascar insist on a hair sample test. From what I can read about it, it's much more accurate than a urine test and there is no wiggle room on the results of this type test. I think if Nascar was confident in it's position, it would have already done so. Let the judge pick a couple on independent labs and put this mess to rest.
NASCAR could have avoided all of this mess if they just told Jeremy that they don't want their drivers using any kind of amphetamines, even prescription Adderall. But they couldn't do that because they never gave the drivers a list of banned substances. Instead of admitting a flaw in their drug policy they made Jeremy out to be a bad guy by painting him as a meth head instead of someone that's just on legal, prescription amphetamines. They should have given Jeremy a pass on that first test and told him to either find a prescription that isn't an amphetamine or find someone else to drive his car. If he tested positive for any amphetamine a second time then he would be suspended. That to me, would have prevented all of this mess. All I know is that NASCAR better be 100% correct that it is meth in Jeremy's system. If Jeremy is really clean and his tests prove it then NASCAR is screwed. Jeremy has nothing to lose at this point but NASCAR has a lot to lose.
Thank you Jeremy Dunn, for an article that is exactly how it should be. Things look bad for Mayfield, BUT, I for one certainly do not just automatically trust what NASCAR says or does.
You are correct, you don't have much experience with addiction..It's called denial..
It doesn't have to make sense that he is denying it so vehemently..Some addicts would deny they use if you caught them with a needle in their arm..
I'm not a fan of the France's and I think NASCAR has really went down hill in the last 20 years but that doesn't mean this is all some big conspiracy.
Given Mayfield's profession of innocence and NA$CAR's shaky reputation for fairness, NA$CAR should have flipped over backwards to let the man prove his case. Instead, Mayfield was told to just be quiet and go along with the program.
I don't know whether or not Mr. Mayfield is a meth-head. But if I had the choice between trusting NA$CAR and trusting Bernie Madoff, I'd have to go with Bernie.
IF HE'S BEEN DOING DRUGS FOR 7 YRS, WHERE HAS NASCAR AND HIS TEAM OWNERS BEEN ALL THIS TIME. SOMEONE WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT HE WAS USING. JEFF HAMMOND IS A BIG JOKE. COME ON GIVE THE GUY A BRAKE.
Hammond told me himself recently that NASCAR was "worse than the Mafia." His $$ comes from NASCAR, directly or indirectly...he'll support NASCAR.
I work for a lab and the urine tests done for Meth are quite accurate. My lab will test the same sample again if it comes up positive. If the second comes up positive, it is then send out to another lab for confirmation. Also, if the first test comes up positive, we then call the ordering physician (or court) to request that the person in question come in for another specimen.
A hair test on Mayfield will not work. The test requires a hair sample of 1.5 inches in length. Each 0.5 inch represents 30 days. The hair sample must be cut as close to the scalp as possible and only the most recent 1.5 inches are tested. Mayfield keeps his hair cut too short to allow for a hair test. Another option is to test via blood. This test can usually differentiate between medicinal use and abusive use. That's something that maybe both parties would want to look into. However, the blood tests can up to a week for the results to come back depending on the lab.
Great article Jeremy.I also want to leave the doors open before pointing a finger at anyone but so far I'm still siding with JM.Here's a senerio I've been thinking alot about lately:NASCAR developes a drug policy,not a real sound one but it's still a policy.Now they need to prove to the world that it works, someone has to test positve,go to rehab,come back racing and all will be good.All they need is someone who will be a good dog and sit up, lay down and roll over, enter Jeremy Mayfield. He's not a high profile driver and neither is he someone who has never won a race or been a contender.He's had a shakey past with team owners, I'm sure NASCAR knows his family history and he's trying to start his own team. Good dog,sit,lay down and roll over.The higher ups at NASCAR may have beleived that this is what would happen, why wouldn't JM just keep his mouth shut and go to rehab to keep his team and himself at the track?Two words-Principles and Morals. Just a senerio but food for thought.
<strong>Ken says:</strong> "They should have given Jeremy a pass on that first test and told him to either find a prescription that isn't an amphetamine or find someone else to drive his car."
It appears as though you've bought into Mayfield's myth of taking Adderall and causing a false positive.
If that's the case you need to read truth not some of the tripe that's been written. Search for Stock Car Science Blog, truth is Adderall will NOT cause positive for meth.
To the author Jeremy Dunn, for goodness sake at least get the story straight.
Mayfield has not had two tests come up positive, but more than that. The sample taken at Richmond was positive, as a result NASCAR sent that sample to a separate lab [meaning not Aegis] and it was also positive. That fact is in the court records, have doubts, I can send you the courts record via a pdf file.
Those tests plus one on July 6th makes 3 positive for meth.
If anyone really believes that NASCAR wouldn't go out to destroy someone, do your homework and find out what happened to Kurtis Turner, when he tried to organize a drivers' union back in the early 60's. They could, have, and will continue to 'deal' with anyone they perceive as a threat. As to Jeremy's innocence, there is too much evidence including drivers who originally stated he was no druggie when the story first broke, serious questions about the ethics and policies of the lab involved, extremely serious questions about just exactly what IS banned as NASCAR never spelled it out, and, although denial does happen, it doesn't happen to this level of money and being publicly willing to ruin your own livelihood in defense of your reputation.
From what I hear through the grapevine Brian France is a bit of a party animal himself..maybe they should test him for some substances. He sure has made enough questionable decisions with the cup series, plus didn't he have a little DUI situation that got a blanket thrown over it. A little to wierd of a witchhunt to ignore...shades of Shane Hmiel.
According to NASCAR's first court filing, it furnished all team owners (including JM) with a list of prohibited substances that the teams had to have crewmembers tested for before the season began - which JM has not refuted. One of the first couple of crewmen suspended for flunking a drug test was a Mayfield crewman, and JM fired him as a result. Nevertheless, recently JM said about Dr. Black and Aegis that he did not trust them. "Never have. Never will."
The only 2 drug tests so far established to have been of JM's urine came up positive for meth.
I find it really refreshing to see an article that tries to give both sides of the issue - much better than a lot that I have seen.
Brian got busted for crashing into the gate leading into his hosuing community a few years back. He washed it away with NA$CAR money. I hope Mayfield beats them at their own game
SUPER GREAT STORY! Thank you Jeremy Dunn!!! One of the best I've read so far. I also say JM would NOT go thru so much in proving himself if he was guilty!!!
GO JEREMY MAYFIELD! PROVE NASCAR WRONG!!!
I SUPPORT YOU ALL THE WAY!!
what is the difference between a drug user in "denial" and an innocent man "denying" what he is accused of. "perception?" lets wait till all the cards are on the table.
Lets ask Tim Richmond's parents just how fair Na$car is....they could really unload.
Anyone who believes that nascar would not destroy someone to benefit their cause is on drugs. Look at the past of nascar. If you are a true fan of racing you can find the facts of others that nascar did not treat fairly. Has anyone seen the evidence? Only hear say from France regime. I would not take that as the gospel. How many have the finance to fight this power house of greed?
NASCAR had better have a real good case against Jeremy and I mean a perfect case or NASCAR will be sued and be found liable for punitive and compensatory damages in excess of ten million dollars. NASCAR will try to out-lawyer Jeremy because their pockets are deeper. Discovery isn't until April 2010 and suspect the NASCAR will realize between now and April how bad they screwed up and to hide their ruthless incompetence they will settle out of court for 6 million.
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