Six years ago, Jeremy Mayfield reached the pinnacle of his career when he made the 2004 Nextel Cup Chase For The Cup. Flash forward to December 2010, and he now finds himself something of a pariah in NASCAR circles, thanks, in part, to a failed test for methamphetamine. Lately, it seems as if Jeremy Mayfield has been afflicted with Munchausen Syndrome, with very twisted and bizarre attempts to keep his name relevant in NASCAR circles as he continues his plight against NASCAR, trying to stick it to “the man”, so to speak. Unlike other drivers that were suspended for drug tests, that, for the most part, took their punishment without much complaint, Mayfield has been trying to blame everyone but himself for the failed drug test and comes across sounding like a conspiracy-theorist on the White House lawn, at his worst (at best, he sounds like Dale Gribble from “King Of The Hill”).
And as far as his excuses go, there have been some true duseys! First, he claimed that an “overdose” on Claritin-D and Adderall allegedly caused his positive test for methamphetamines when most experts clearly concur that is all but impossible. Next, after his step-mother alleges that she saw Jeremy using meth on several occasions, Mayfield absolutely was malicious toward her, calling her a “whore”, a “gold-digger”, and even implying that she killed his father. Whether these allegations hold truth or not remain to be seen, but to air your dirty laundry in public was a low-blow on Mayfield’s part.
It gets better, fellow readers. He has claimed that NASCAR has a “conspiracy” against him and that they “spiked the test”. Plus he claimed that NASCAR suspended him to “send a message to fellow drivers”. First off, I highly doubt NASCAR would put together an elaborate conspiracy against a lower mid-pack driver. Second of all, what motivation would NASCAR have to spike the test? Third, if they were sending a message to other drivers that Mayfield alleges were on drugs, then why haven’t we seen any other positive tests of other drivers since or, to a large degree, before then? Sure, there were some positive tests, most notably Shane Hmiel, Aaron Fike, and the sad story of Kevin Grubb among others, and even in the 80′s, Gary Balough had his issues with drugs. But drugs in NASCAR are not the wide-spread problem that Mayfield claims they are, which makes his plight equal parts amusing and pathetic at times.
The latest allegation he has made was that Brian France had him “intentionally” black-flagged from a race at Indianapolis in 2006, just days before he was released from Evernham Motorsports. Jeremy has had a track record of sticking his foot in his mouth on more than one occasion. He made some disparaging remarks about Roger Penske that got him released from Penske Racing. He also basically exposed the fact that Ray Evernham was dating one of his development drivers, Erin Crocker (they would later get married.) on the way out of the organization. And now that all hope seems to be gone for his racing career, he’s firing low-blows at the CEO of NASCAR? There’s an old saying that you can’t buck city hall, but I think Mayfield has been bucking, spitting in the face, and giving the middle finger to City Hall.
Probably the best thing for Mayfield to do, to save himself any kind of face in the court of public affairs, is to stop trying to fight NASCAR because, as experience shows, no one has ever fought NASCAR and won. Big Bill France scared away the Teamsters in the early 1960′s by threatening to plant corn in the Daytona infield and using a pistol to keep drivers from joining the union and quelled a similar union effort in 1969 at Talladega. Little Bill France had to fight off the efforts of a clearly-ill Tim Richmond in the late-80′s, and I don’t imagine Brian France would back down from similar efforts either. But, knowing the never-ending circus that has surrounded Mr. Mayfield, I don’t see this saga ending anytime soon.
And as far as his excuses go, there have been some true duseys! First, he claimed that an “overdose” on Claritin-D and Adderall allegedly caused his positive test for methamphetamines when most experts clearly concur that is all but impossible. Next, after his step-mother alleges that she saw Jeremy using meth on several occasions, Mayfield absolutely was malicious toward her, calling her a “whore”, a “gold-digger”, and even implying that she killed his father. Whether these allegations hold truth or not remain to be seen, but to air your dirty laundry in public was a low-blow on Mayfield’s part.
It gets better, fellow readers. He has claimed that NASCAR has a “conspiracy” against him and that they “spiked the test”. Plus he claimed that NASCAR suspended him to “send a message to fellow drivers”. First off, I highly doubt NASCAR would put together an elaborate conspiracy against a lower mid-pack driver. Second of all, what motivation would NASCAR have to spike the test? Third, if they were sending a message to other drivers that Mayfield alleges were on drugs, then why haven’t we seen any other positive tests of other drivers since or, to a large degree, before then? Sure, there were some positive tests, most notably Shane Hmiel, Aaron Fike, and the sad story of Kevin Grubb among others, and even in the 80′s, Gary Balough had his issues with drugs. But drugs in NASCAR are not the wide-spread problem that Mayfield claims they are, which makes his plight equal parts amusing and pathetic at times.
The latest allegation he has made was that Brian France had him “intentionally” black-flagged from a race at Indianapolis in 2006, just days before he was released from Evernham Motorsports. Jeremy has had a track record of sticking his foot in his mouth on more than one occasion. He made some disparaging remarks about Roger Penske that got him released from Penske Racing. He also basically exposed the fact that Ray Evernham was dating one of his development drivers, Erin Crocker (they would later get married.) on the way out of the organization. And now that all hope seems to be gone for his racing career, he’s firing low-blows at the CEO of NASCAR? There’s an old saying that you can’t buck city hall, but I think Mayfield has been bucking, spitting in the face, and giving the middle finger to City Hall.
Probably the best thing for Mayfield to do, to save himself any kind of face in the court of public affairs, is to stop trying to fight NASCAR because, as experience shows, no one has ever fought NASCAR and won. Big Bill France scared away the Teamsters in the early 1960′s by threatening to plant corn in the Daytona infield and using a pistol to keep drivers from joining the union and quelled a similar union effort in 1969 at Talladega. Little Bill France had to fight off the efforts of a clearly-ill Tim Richmond in the late-80′s, and I don’t imagine Brian France would back down from similar efforts either. But, knowing the never-ending circus that has surrounded Mr. Mayfield, I don’t see this saga ending anytime soon.
11 comments:
I hold Brian Z. France in the same contempt as I do Jeremy Mayfield. They're both losers. Too bad the mainstream media is forced to toe NASCAR's line, lest they loose their media credentials.
If you go back to the case of Tim Richmond, there's evidence and a witness that Tim's samples were spiked. So NASCAR does have a "tradition" established on spiking samples.
Based on NASCAR's own drug and alcohol polcies and the actions of BZF himself, he should be tested for drugs and alcohol based on the "symptoms" spelled out in their policies in addition to the fact that he is, according to NASCAR's own admission, a NASCAR official and that all officials are subject to testing should they exhibit any of the listed signs or symptoms in the drug and alcohol policy.
NASCAR has proven that they are crooks and thing that they are bigger than life. You seem to be in their pocket as well by the way you write about Mayfield. I am not a JM fan however it seems that every judge involved was in NASCARS pocket as usual. The media sucks up to them and the stations suck up to them. But that is how the South is based. Their all "candi-arced cowerds and crumble for money. I feel for JM as he is clearly getting the shaft and know one with money or clout will stand up for him. The France family in my opinion are a bunch of rich jerks that bully their way around. Why somebody has not kicked their rearends is behond me.
To address the first comment, Brian France is not a saint, by any means. But Jeremy has had a track-record of foot-in-mouth syndrome and really isn't helping his own case with this constant circus surrounding him. So BZF isn't totally in the clear either. But if you have to look at who's more credible, I'd take BZF by a slight margin.
As for the second comment, you have to take into context how the health concerns of the AIDS epidemic was in the 80's and in that case, they (NASCAR) couldn't take the chance of Tim being in an accident with a lot of blood as the knowledge about the AIDS virus was not like it is now. That said, NASCAR was in the wrong for spiking that test because they dropped the ball in that situation as Richmond was physically ill. And I agree, ALL drivers and officials should be subject to testing.
Brody
well said Brody
As along time JM fan you are right. Coudnt beleive the Penske thing when it happened then with Everenham thought wow that was low.
Then he makes the Daytona 500. The next couple weeks thats all i was interested in.
Then all this.
All I can say is give it up Jeremy while i still care a little.
Not a JM fan so I may have a litle bias. Conspiracy? NASCAR doin a racer wrong? Unthinkable! Impossible!
Two words: Carl Long
'nuff said
Not a JM fan so I may have a litle bias. Conspiracy? NASCAR doin a racer wrong? Unthinkable! Impossible!
Two words: Carl Long
'nuff said
It seems to me that if Jeremy was not guilty of drug use that he could have proved it before this story turned into a circus by having his hair tested live on tv with the test also done live at the same time. I'm sure that if we all saw some hair being cut off his head and tested right there we would have complete trust in the results and the whole thing would have been settled instantly. He has never given any real proof of an "overdose" of anything. I used to be a fan of Jeremy but considering his behavior...It sounds like the type of denial that you hear about from addicts "It's everybody's fault but mine!"
One comment left piqued my interest. Someone referred to the Carl Long situation. While I'm on the fence of whether it was a conspiracy or not, I'll offer this: For the violation Long had, if let's say, Hendrick or Roush got the same violation, I think it wouldn't have been as excessive of a punishment as what Long got. They may have got a few points docked and a smaller fine, but the punishment did not fit the crime with Long. Again, I don't know if that was so much a conspiracy as it was a very excessive punishment.
Whats being left out,was JM driving under the influence,yes or no! If no why is he and everyone else being treated as guilty? Why are they forced to P in a cup?So many people have been brainwashed by the drug war! As to the Carl Long debacle,the motor in question was a test mule! Nascar knows it.If you don't know what one is,don't comment.
I see you're drinking the Kool-aid also. Why can't you get ALL the facts & post them in your article. You've left alot of interesting facts out. Jm did have multiple tests done by independent lab - all coming back negitive. Na$cas has only used 1 - theirs. And the courts though his out. As far as Penske - Rusty told the whole story & it was him who got JM fired & Rusty later publically appoligized. As far as Evernham - there was a whole lot more to that story too. JM makes the Chase twice in a row & Kasey doesn't so RE takes all of JM's cars & staff & gives them to KK religation JM to R&D cars. 2nd JM didn't blow the whistle on RE affair - the media did because they already know about it. Yea he might put his foot in his mouth but he only speaks the truth. Oh yea & speaking of the step mom - isn't this the same person who went to JM's house & proceeded to beat on the people living on his property while drunk?
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