Maybe next week, Mayfield e-mail says
Saturday, Jul. 04, 2009
TODD SUMLIN
7/1/2009 NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield, speaks to reporters and photographers outside the federal courthouse in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, July 1, 2009. A judge lifted Mayfield's suspension, saying the NASCAR driver should be allowed to race. TODD SUMLIN - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com
AP
Jeremy Mayfield, left, and his attorney Bill Diehl, right, talk with reporters after meeting with NASCAR officials in Concord, N.C., Thursday, May 21, 2009. Mayfield might have to take legal action to get his suspension lifted. Diehl said the meeting was cordial but did not get them any closer to resolving the issue. Mayfield was suspended May 9 for failing a random drug test. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
5/29/09 Jeremy Mayfield leaves the Mecklenburg County Courthouse Friday afternoon. DAVIE HINSHAW - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
Attorneys for Jeremy Mayfield on Friday said NASCAR informed the suspended owner/driver he tested positive for amphetamines, but racing officials gave a different account. DAVIE HINSHAW - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
AP
In this Friday, May 8, 2009, photo, NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield waits with his wife, Shana Mayfield, before qualifications at Darlington Raceway in Darlington,S.C. Mayfield was suspended indefinitely Saturday after after failing a random drug test. NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter will not reveal what banned drug Mayfield used. Hunter said it was not an alcohol-related offense. (AP Photo/CJ Driggers)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Jeremy Mayfield’s return to the track will wait at least one more week.
In a statement e-mailed Saturday afternoon, Mayfield said he and his wife, Shana, elected not to attempt to make the Sprint Cup race at Daytona International Speedway because of the short preparation time since his NASCAR suspension was lifted.
"There is nothing in the world that I would rather do than race for you all on the Fourth of July," the statement read. "We had less than 24 hours to prepare the car, assemble a team, get sponsorship and travel to Daytona.
"Ultimately, we were unable to get this done in time. We've decided that our time is best spent back here in North Carolina working around the clock to try and secure the funding needed to get the No. 41 car to Chicago and beyond."
NASCAR suspended Mayfield indefinitely May 9 after officials said he tested positive for methamphetamine. Shortly thereafter he sued in state court to be reinstated. The case was moved by NASCAR to federal court and on Wednesday, a federal judge in Charlotte issued a temporary injunction and lifted his suspension.
Yet despite indications in court to the contrary, neither Mayfield nor his team arrived in Daytona.
NASCAR officials has said they are still considering an appeal of the judge's decision. If he attempts next week's race at Chicagoland Speedway, Mayfield's team would not need to be at the track until Thursday.
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