A federal judge ruled in Jeremy Mayfield’s favor Wednesday, granting the suspended driver a temporary injunction uplifting his suspension from NASCAR. Mayfield was seeking a restraining order against NASCAR to overturn the suspension and NASCAR delayed a legal decision on the matter, by having the case moved to a federal court.
In the U.S. District Court, senior Judge Graham Mullen said that the case has done more to harm Mayfield than it has NASCAR.
NASCAR suspended Mayfield in early May for failing a drug test. Mayfield has said all along that he was not on drugs and instead had taken a mixture of allergy medicine and ADHD medicine. ESPN reported a couple of weeks ago that Mayfield tested positive for methamphetamine, a fact NASCAR confirmed this week.
Mayfield and attorney Bill Diehl have taken issue with NASCAR’s testing methods, first saying that NASCAR did not inform Mayfield of what he tested positive for and then saying NASCAR tested his B urine sample without his permission.
Despite the temporary hold on his suspension, Mayfield Motorsports will not be on the track at Daytona this weekend. Diehl says that since the race is on Saturday, Mayfield does not have enough time to get his No. 41 Toyota team ready. There have been rumors that Mayfield might end up in Gunselman Motorsports’ No. 64 Toyota, but sponsor Fred’s says that they do not want Mayfield in the car. Restrictor plate-ringer Mike Wallace is listed as the team’s driver.
Bill Weber booted from booth for TNT’s final races, after hotel lobby blowup
TNT lead announcer Bill Weber will not be in the broadcast booth for TNT’s final races on its NASCAR schedule. Weber was noticeably absent from the booth last week in New Hampshire and pit road reporter Ralph Sheheen filled his role. Sheheen will be Weber’s replacement for this weekend’s Daytona race and next week’s Chicagoland race. TNT’s Saturday night coverage will be presented with limited commercial interruption, much like their broadcasts of the race the past two years.
TNT officials attributed Weber’s absence from the booth to “personal reasons” and said their policy is that they are not at liberty to discuss those matters. According to some published reports, Weber got into an altercation in the lobby of his hotel. There is no word on any other details regarding the matter, including Weber’s future with the network beyond this season.
TNT’s New Hampshire ratings were up over last year’s numbers, marking one of the only ratings increases for a television broadcast this season. Last week’s Infineon ratings were flat.
Earnhardt car among other NASCAR machines present at England’s Goodwood Festival
Several NASCAR teams will be participating in England’s annual Goodwood Festival this weekend. The West Sussex gathering celebrates historic cars and runs them on a 1.16 mile hill climb and on a 2.5 km road course. Dale Earnhardt’s 20 year-old daughter Taylor will drive the chassis that The Intimidator drove to his last career win in October 2000.
Landon Cassill will drive the “T-Rex” chassis that Jeff Gordon drove to victory in the 1998 All-Star race. The car’s radical chassis setup drew the ire of NASCAR and was banned from competition afterwards.
Also in the event are Mike Skinner in a Red Bull Toyota and Rusty Wallace in a No. 2 Penske Racing Dodge chassis.
Nationwide Series crew chief Berry’s suspension revised
NASCAR announced this week that No. 62 Rusty Wallace Racing crew chief Bryan Berry’s suspension has been revised and will be lifted July 7th. Berry was suspended for allegedly uttering a racial slur at black driver Marc Davis, after Davis got together with Berry’s driver Brendan Gaughan. Berry will remain on probation until the end of the year.
Milwaukee owes NASCAR funds for races held recently
The Milwaukee Mile race track, the longest-running track in the United States, owes NASCAR money for the races the sanctioning body held at the track in late June. Both the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series held races at the track and, according to court documents, the track owes NASCAR just under $2 million dollars.
Wisonsin Motorsports owns the track and its head, Claude Napier, says the NASCAR attendance numbers for the races were low and that they would not be able to pay the full amount that they owe NASCAR. According to documents, the track paid NASCAR all they received from vending profits, but apparently that still does not cover the tab.
Semi-Georgia boy Joey Logano brings in victory in New Hampshire
Joey Logano and crew chief Greg Zipadelli played perfect pit and weather strategy last weekend in New Hampshire, allowing the driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota to score his first career win and, at just over 19 years-old, surpass Kyle Busch as the youngest winner in Sprint Cup history. He is now 21st in points.
Peachtree City’s Reed Sorenson also ran well at the track, bringing his McCafe Dodge home 17th. He ran just outside the top 15 for most of the race and now is 26th in points.
David Ragan’s bad season continues, as the Unadilla native got caught up in a multi-car crash midway through the race and had to retire his No. 6 UPS Ford. He finished 38th and is 30th in points.
In the Nationwide Series New Hampshire race, the Georgian results were fairly disappointing, with Ken Butler III finishing 25th and John Wes Townley finishing 28th.
Listen to Doug on The Allan Vigil Ford Lincoln Mercury 120 racing show with Captain Herb Emory at a special time this Saturday, from 4-5 p.m. Doug will also be a pit road reporter for the Georgia Asphalt Series race broadcast live from Lanier Speedway this Friday at 8 p.m. live on racefanradio.com.
Car Insurance Toyota Tacoma for sale
