NASCAR: Mayfield tested positive for Meth again

Jeremy Mayfield tested positive again for methamphetamine, NASCAR said, igniting more denials from the driver.

The positive result from a July6 random test was included in a U.S. District Court filing Wednesday that asked the federal judge who lifted Mayfield's drug suspension to reinstate the ban.

“Because Mr. Mayfield's repeated and confirmed use of methamphetamine violates NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy, and because NASCAR must be permitted to protect the safety of its drivers, crews, and fans, as well as the integrity of the sport, defendants respectfully request that the court … reinstate NASCAR's suspension of Mr. Mayfield,” NASCAR wrote in its filing.

The filing also included an affidavit from Mayfield's stepmother, Lisa, who said she witnessed the driver using methamphetamine at least 30 times.

“I don't trust anything NASCAR does, anything Dr. David Black does, never have, never will,” Mayfield told The Associated Press during a phone interview. Black is the administrator for NASCAR's drug-testing program.

“And they picked the wrong woman to use against me because that (expletive) is trash and has got nothing on me.”

According to documents, Lisa Mayfield said she first saw the driver use meth in 1998 at a race shop in Mooresville. She said Mayfield cooked his own drugs until pseudoephedrine was taken off the shelves and it became too difficult to obtain the ingredients. She said her stepson then began to purchase meth.

“Between 1998 and 2005, I am personally aware that Jeremy used methamphetamines often,” she said in her affidavit. “I was concerned about his heavy use and talked to his father about it. I saw Jeremy use methamphetamine by snorting it up his nose at least 30 times during the seven years I was around him. Jeremy used methamphetamine not only in my presence, but also when we were both in the presence of others.”

Mayfield contested his stepmother's account.

“She's tried everything she can do to get money out of me. I won't help her, so I guess she found a way to get money from NASCAR by giving them an affidavit full of lies,” he said.

Mayfield was suspended May9 for failing a random drug test given eight days earlier. NASCAR said he tested positive for methamphetamine.

He has denied using the illegal drug and blamed his positive test on the combined use of Adderall for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Claritin-D for allergies.

He sued, and U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen issued an injunction July1 that allowed Mayfield to return to competition. Mullen based his decision on Mayfield's argument that the testing system is flawed and there was a reasonable likelihood of a false positive. He also said NASCAR could test Mayfield at any time.

NASCAR did five days later at Mayfield's home and said in its filings the “A” sample had levels of methamphetamine consistent with habitual users who consume high doses.

“My only comment is that's their result,” Mayfield attorney John Buric said. “But what I want you to keep in mind is that test was performed by the defendants in the case. Aegis Laboratories and Dr. Black are defendants in this case. … It ought to be done independently, but NASCAR didn't do that.”

On July6, Mayfield also had a second test at a lab chosen by his attorneys. Buric said that test came back negative but was sent back Wednesday for “reconfirmation.”

Mayfield said he has independently been tested at least six times since his failed May1 test, and all were negative.

Mayfield's lawyers also filed their response Wednesday to NASCAR's motion.

The brief, which didn't include results of Mayfield's latest drug case, argued NASCAR was trying to “fashion the rules to their liking” by not meeting the requirements needed to overturn the ruling.

General manager Bobby Wooten, the last employee of Mayfield Motorsports, said he resigned Monday because he doesn't believe the team will return to the track.

“I think Jeremy is telling the truth. I back him 110percent,” said Wooten, who spent nine years as a N.C. police officer and said he knows drug users are capable of hiding the abuse and fooling those around them. “I don't believe Jeremy is a drug addict. I do believe he could have taken one too many over-the-counter drugs.”