Posted on 05/10/2009 7:41:55 AM PDT by Peter Horry
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Jeremy Mayfield was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR on Saturday for failing a random drug test, becoming the first driver to violate a toughened new policy that went into effect this season.
Mayfield tested positive for a banned substance last weekend at Richmond International Raceway.
"In my case, I believe that the combination of a prescribed medicine and an over the counter medicine reacted together and resulted in a positive drug test," Mayfield said in a statement. "My doctor and I are working with both Dr. (David) Black and NASCAR to resolve this matter."
Black is the CEO of Aegis Sciences Corp. in Nashville, Tenn., which runs NASCAR's testing program.
NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter would not reveal what banned substance Mayfield used, but Hunter said it was not an alcohol-related offense.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
They cut prices for this season by around $20 but that isn’t a lot when you can’t look at a seat for under $80. Actually I found that I like sitting in the bleachers on pit row for around $45. You can only see the front stretch but being able to watch pit stops from 40 feet away was a nice change.
I’ve been a NASCAR fan going on fifty years and for my money it has gotten really boring. Virtually identical cars, restrictor plates, ridiculous rules. Can anybody today tell what kind of car they are looking at if it doesn’t have a painted-on grill?
I enjoyed the days of unlimited racing, when a Petty could show up with something like a Superbird and blow the doors off everybody, or a Yarbrough with an overhead cam monster motor, and no one pissed and moaned because the car didn’t fit some silly template. If you could still do that but include all the great safety advances that have been made people would come back in droves.
Martin led the way when it comes to fitness in Nascar. He’s my longtime favorite driver. Glad to see him coming back for a full season next year.
Some of the sponsors have bailed because of the economy. Same with some of the other pro sports (an NHL team recently filed bankruptcy).
I agree about the sport being in a decline, however. They all drive the same cars - stick on decals being the main external distinguishing characteristic. There is probably a market for old fashioned style stock car races.
Also, I think you will find that the average NASCAR fan spends more on NASCAR memorabilia and products than all other sports combined. I may be wrong about this fact, but a few years ago I read than the average fan on race-day spends $75.00 or more on memorabilia, t-shits, hats, etc.. The blue-collar guys spend the big bucks on NASCAR.
Grubb was found dead last week in a hotel outside Richmond, Va of an apparent suicide.
Did you see David Pearson on TV yesterday? He pretty much said the exact same thing you stated about the COT. The other guys on the panel, DW, etc., were clearly uncomfortable with David’s honesty, but he basically said today’s NASCAR sucks.
I’m of the opinion that NASCAR is little different then pro wrestling. Sorry to say, but my opinion.
“NASCAR is still selling out races.”
What are you smoking?
Last year, only the two Bristol shows sold out.
I was at three events last year, and tongs of tickets were available for all three.
This year, the number of empty seats is staggering at some venues. Last night’s Darlington crowd was solid, but you could still see a few empty seats.
Problem is the factory platforms aren't raceable any more.
Would you pay to watch a pack of V-6, auto trans, front wheel drive cars take laps at Daytona??
“I’m of the opinion that NASCAR is little different then pro wrestling.”
Yup, that accusation has been around for decades.
“Would you pay to watch a pack of V-6, auto trans, front wheel drive cars take laps at Daytona??”
Minivans... we need to race the minivans. I mean, think of all of the sponsor logo space!!!
Oh, but with much better props...
Ridiculous. The restrictor plates actually make the big track races interesting.
The old races where Richard Petty win by a mile and a half. Yea. So exciting. Nascar was really booming back then wasn’t it? :-/.
Nascar needs to get rid of all the millions of dollars worth of pre-race testing that certain teams can do and others can’t.
I think socialism/protectionism actually works for sports and entertainment. It’s why the NFL is far more interesting than Major League Baseball (and I LOVE baseball).
Parity has risen this sport from ashes. There’s nothing wrong with sending teams out with identical engines. Let the best drivers/pit crews decide the race, not some engineering geeks from GM or Toyota.
The ‘show’ associated with NASCAR may be on the level with the WWF, but the comparison stops there. I could write a book on NASCAR today, and historically, and could find much wrong with the sport over the past few years. 43 cars going into turn #1 at Talledega at 200+mph would be hard to control from the perspective that I suspect your comment eluded too.
I am a casual watcher from Wisconsin who checks in from time to time to see how the winner of this year’s first two races Matt Kenseth is doing. Can someone explain that deal .
I watched Bill Elliot turn his 212 MPH lap at Talledega, and then watched Bobby Allison tear down the fence the same weekend.
From that point on, NASCAR became less about racing.
The COT was the last straw for me. They all drive the same exact car, with decals for branding.
I can understand the safety arguement, but I’m a purist. Racing is about speed.
“I don’t care if my employees smoked a blunt last night, or downed a case of PBR. I cannot justify the intrusion on personal liberty”
I agree with you, any testing should be based on reasonable suspicions because of behavior and performance. However drinking PBR may be reasonable cause.
Modify an engine from a pickup, drop in a performance drive train, put together about 1000 of them and sell them to well off middle aged guys. I still remember seeing a Superbird on the street in the early 1990s. And there are still some front/rear platforms out there.
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