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Judge lifts Mayfield suspension

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 2, 2009

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A judge lifted Jeremy Mayfield's drug suspension Wednesday, saying the NASCAR driver is free to race at Daytona this weekend.

"The court finds the harm to Mr. Mayfield significantly outweighs any harm to NASCAR," U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen said.

Whether Mayfield will field a car at Daytona International Speedway this weekend is still a question. After the ruling, he said he would definitely be at the track but still has to work out the money for his race team to be there, too.

NASCAR had indefinitely suspended Mayfield on May 9 after he tested positive for methamphetamines eight days earlier.

Brian France, the racing series' chairman, said the organization has no immediate plans to file an appeal but didn't rule it out.

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

Mullen said NASCAR can test Mayfield extensively, including hair samples, to determine "if he's been a meth-head or not." Outside the courtroom, Poston said NASCAR would indeed test Mayfield if he's in Daytona Beach this weekend.

The deadline to enter Saturday's race was June 23. Mayfield, however, still can join the race as a late entry until the garage opens at 8:30 a.m. Thursday though he would not earn any championship points.

Mayfield attorney Bill Diehl argued in court that his client never had the opportunity to challenge the positive test and has never shown any characteristics of a meth abuser. If Mayfield used the drug at the levels NASCAR has suggested, Diehl suggested Mayfield would be "either a walking zombie or he's dead.

"His teeth were never rotting out, his eyes were not sunken," Diehl said. "He never displayed any characteristics that are commonly seen by everyone among people who use meth."

In an affidavit filed last week, Mayfield denied ever using methamphetamines.

NASCAR HALL OF FAME: Former drivers-turned-owners Glen Wood and Richard Childress are among the 25 nominees for the first NASCAR Hall of Fame induction class. NASCAR released the two names ahead of the announcement of all nominees tonight.

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