Mayfield’s OTL Interview: What We Learned
If you slept in on this Sunday morning, you likely missed Jeremy Mayfield’s first 1-on-1 interview since testing positive for methamphetomines back in May.
If you missed the interview on ESPN’s Outside The Lines, you didn’t miss much. Mayfield basically told reporter Steve Delsohn that he did not ever use meth, and that he doesn’t even know what it looks like. He also said, once again, that he believes he was targeted and used as an example.
However, we did learn a few things, beginning with:
-NASCAR has no case against Mayfield. At least, not one they wanted to defend too badly on national television. Brian France, CEO of NASCAR, Dr. David Black of Aegis Labs, and Lisa Mayfield, stepmother of Jeremy, all declined to comment on their supposed case.
-Also, former NASCAR driver and Mayfield’s former brother-in-law, David Keith, as well as three other people, have filed affidavits against Mayfield, claiming he used meth. Mayfield claims that they are all best friends, and that Keith has been mad at Mayfield since he divorced Keith’s sister and stopped funding his race car. All four of them declined to comment, as well.
-NASCAR’s drug testing policy is not transparent. This, according to NCAA doping tester, Dr. Anthony Butch. I think an opinion from somebody of that stature is enough to perhaps warrant a drug-testing reform, don’t you?
-The popular opinion in the garage is that Mayfield was used as an example. Though a guilty example, according to ESPN reporter Ryan McGee.
-You can’t feel very bad for Mayfield. At least, not if you saw the house he and his wife are trying to build. Seriously, Jeremy, if money’s that tight, maybe you ought to think about downsizing just a bit.
Seriously – they started that house years ago – not after all this crap started!! Nascar needed an example – I hope they pay dearly for destroying a mans reputation, if they havent’ already run the sport into the ground by then…..
October 26th, 2009 at 12:56 pmHey Hopper!
October 26th, 2009 at 6:32 pmMaybe they should have changed the name of the show for this one episode because they are not talking about “lines” in Jeremy’s case. Hopefully, a joke. You, Brenda, and many others including me, know that Jeremy is definitely being used as an example of Nascar’s tactic of winning through intimidation. Carl Long still is at -200 points in Sprint cup standings. I am very glad that Jeremy is still somewhat on the radar for the media. I did not catch the interview, but I bet it was a more tranquil repetition of Mayfield’s give-and-take with the Charlotte TV stations. I Tivo the races and am astounded at the number of empty seats- maybe 50%! Could this caper with Jeremy be a part of that? There are a lot of factors, to be sure, but the demographics of race fans would be more inclined to support the underdog! As the old Chinese curse reads, “May you live in interesting times”!
Jeremy is my driver and will always be my driver.nascrap can say ALL the lies they want about Jeremy,and the truth is that Jeremy doesnot take drugs. Jeremy wants to race, but nascrap has ruined that now for him.Just look the france guy got arrested for drugs and drunk driving,is he plastered all over the internet….no way. He’s probably at some clinic getting clean.yeah right.nascrap wanted Jeremy for their poster boy, and has our hard earned money that we spend at a race, to pay people to lie, cover up things, and have writers under their control.
October 26th, 2009 at 6:47 pmSteve, yes the interview was pretty laid back. At least, there was no yelling or anything like you may gather from Mayfield vs. NASCAR articles on some other sites. You could certainly tell that Jeremy was frustrated, though.
I’m not sure if what NASCAR is doing to Mayfield is having any impact on the lack of fans. In my opinion, the lack of attendance has more to do with the on-track product than the Mayfield thing. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that the racing isn’t exactly that great these days. Of course, you do at least have to be a little smarter than Robin Pemberton or Brian France to know that.
October 26th, 2009 at 6:47 pmHey Hilda, did you see my article about JC?
October 26th, 2009 at 6:48 pmcontinued>they have used their iorn fist all thru the years to have things their way.This is a bunch of crap that they are pulling.They will pay one day, when they face the Lord and he opens up the chute and they go where they belong.You all can put Jeremy down for saying the truth, what would you do in the same situation, you are clean and they say you are dirty?People have listened to nascrap crap for to long. I hope that Jeremy wins big in his case.Look at the witnesses they have, just a bunch of druggies, liars.Jeremy is awesome in my book.
October 26th, 2009 at 6:53 pmNo Steve I didn’t see it. Why should he be treated any better?Jeremy was smeared all over, racked thru the coals,lost everything.If he had tried to make a race they would of fixed it so that he couldn’t.The people just don’t know Jeremy. He loves Shana and his racing and us true fans.They have ruined it all for Jeremy. It’s funny ,when Jeremy says something, everybody puts him down, treats him like crap, but the real bullies get treated like they do no wrong. This whole mess is so wrong.Innocent is Jeremy.
October 26th, 2009 at 7:01 pmHere it is: http://stockcarspin.com/2009/10/08/j-c-brians-cousin-france-arrested-on-drug-charges/
October 26th, 2009 at 7:06 pmVery Good article,Hopper. I wish more journalists would feel the way you do.Instead they publish the nascrap way.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:34 amThe best remark that I read about this drugged drunk was
At least his team won a race, with him out of the car.That says a lot.
Jeremy will win when this ordeal is over.People see who is wrong and who is right.Jeremy is inocent.
all of you. You people are ridiculous, supporting this piece of crap jeremy mayfield. The wild accusations and erratic behavior he has exhibited since this incident belies his position on its face. Put down the weed, or whatever other illegal drugs you people are on and get with reality.
The suspension makes no difference anyway. It’s not like he could manage to make any races anyway.
October 27th, 2009 at 4:05 pmGood article Hooper, I agree with Hilda, not many Nascar writers will write these stories. I just found out that Jeremy is auctioning off much of his property on Nov. 20th. Here is the link to the auction.
http://www.ironhorseauction.com/index.php?subp=1&sct=109&pg=ap&pid=13776
October 29th, 2009 at 10:15 am