Mayfield suspension lifted

NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield may have just won the war. A Federal judge has lifted Mayfield’s indefinite NASCAR suspension, allowing the driver to be at Daytona International Speedway for Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400.

Mayfield has said that he would definitely be in Daytona this weekend, but he didn’t know whether or not he would be fielding a car. That would all depend on whether or not he could come up with the money to get a car and crew there.

"We are disappointed, but we respect the judge's ruling," NASCAR said in a written statement. "This is only a temporary injunction. The legal case continues beyond this point, and we will continue to make our case."

According to a ruling by US District Court Judge Graham Mullen, NASCAR can test Mayfield for drugs as extensively as they want. NASCAR officials have said that Mayfield will definitely be tested if he shows up at Daytona this weekend.

Mayfield has until Thursday morning to enter Saturday’s race as a late entry; however, such a late entry would prevent him from racing for points.

Mayfield was indefinitely suspended from NASCAR competition on May 9 after testing positive for methamphetamines.

According to Mayfield’s attorney, Bill Diehl, his client never had an opportunity to challenge the test results and never showed any signs of a meth user.

Mayfield has consistently blamed his positive drug test result on a combination of Adderall, a drug used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Claritin-D, used to combat allergy symptoms.

"This is not a case about chocolate milk or orange juice," said Helen Maher, a NASCAR attorney. "This is about public safety."
NASCAR CEO Brian France didn’t say for sure whether or not NASCAR would appeal the decision, but he did say they weren’t ruling it out.