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StumblePublished Thursday, July 2, 2009 | 2:24 p.m.
Updated Thursday, July 2, 2009 | 2:34 p.m.
Did he or didn’t he? That is the question. This huge question mark hangs over Jeremy Mayfield as the allegations of his drug use wind its way through the court system.
There’s a lot of emotional chatter on the Internet surrounding the Mayfield mess, but for me this controversy is only about two things at this moment. Is Mayfield a drug user and, subsequently, is it safe for him to be driving in a race? This isn’t about standing up to the big and powerful or some perceived conspiracy by NASCAR or a blatant move by NASCAR to throw its weight around. These issues may come into play later, depending on the final verdict. But these aren’t the primary concerns at this moment.
We will all have to wait to see if the allegations against Mayfield are accurate. In the meantime everyone loses. NASCAR's drug testing policy is taking hits. Mayfield’s reputation, morality and future as a driver are all in question. And Mayfield’s fans don’t get to see him race. The sport needs as speedy a resolution as the courts can provide.
Mayfield is adamant about his innocence. NASCAR has conducted two drug tests. And while I’m hesitant to fully buy into Mayfield’s defense, which seems sketchy, I’m not ready to completely accept the validity of the drug tests until all of facts and evidence are presented. And right now there is more talk than facts.
That having been said, I admit that I was surprised by a federal court’s decision to grant Mayfield an injunction. Has the judge in this matter ever viewed a race at Daytona? Does he realize that these cars travel at almost 200 miles per hour just inches from one another? The issue may be moot if Mayfield doesn’t compete in Saturday’s race, but I wouldn’t want to be on the track with a driver that has recently failed a drug test just as I wouldn’t want to fly on a plane piloted by someone who had recently failed a drug test.
Everyone is talking about drug abuse and driver safty..which is a gr8 concern, but everyone knows the reputations of some nascar drivers and their drinking habits...If nascar was concerned about driver safety you think they would start with an easily administered alcohol breathalizer test on these nascar drivers before a race!!!
If NASCAR was serious about safety they would make all drivers take a test just before they crawl in the car for every practice and every race. Add the cost to the entry cost.
But what would happen if they found some big name stoned to the gills instead of some penny-ante never-was-has-been? Obviously there would be one helluva cover up by the PR people.
NASCAR has become the Michael Jackson of motorsports.
hey Mike you should read what nascar did to Tim Richmond in 1988...eerily similar to what is going on with mayfield...I'm not stating Mayfield is innocent...but he should be given due process...now he is a "marked" man without technically being guilty of anything...i read earlier today that syndicated radio host Bubba The Love Sponge actually did a test to prove that it was possible to get a false positive taking OTC drugs...I don't know the standards he used but, on the second lab test, he was going to use video... I'm all for NASCAR giving drug tests but, NASCAR rules ...as any racing fan knows...are broadly interpreted
Mike, thank you for the balance and clarity of your observations. I enjoyed this piece right up until the analogy; but it got me to think about how does one get in his/her car each day knowing that impaired drivers are all around us on the highway? It's called risk/reward. If any of the other teams feel that Mayfield's presence on the race track upsets the current balance of risk/reward for them, then they may withdraw from that race. I think most drivers would find the risks of being on track with Jeremy Mayfield, who they have known for years in the garage and on the track, is less than being on track with a rookie.
Jeremy Mayfield disclosed he was taking Adderall. Adderall will general test positive for methamphetamines and this is fairly common knowledge.
The question should be whether NASCAR should have an approved drug list, like the FAA does, and then decide which prescription and OTC drugs are approved to take and which are not. This way the drivers will always know where they stand before they ingest any prescription or OTC medication.
P.S. Thanks to the judge for reinstating me! In America, everyone has the right to bloggity!