Forget Barry Bonds and Manny Ramirez - this is NASCAR, and the newest target of substance abuse is Jeremy Mayfield, the No. 41 driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. After testing positive in a random drug test before the Richmond race on May 2, Mayfield was suspended indefinitely from the Cup series and has been forced to adhere to NASCAR's very strict substance abuse policy, surrendering his No. 41 Toyota to interim replacement J.J. Yeley as Mayfield tries to resolve his positive drug test.
Mayfield learned the news of his failed drug test after placing 35th in the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond earlier this month, making a statement the next week before Darlington, saying, "As both a team owner and a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, I have immense respect for the enforcement policies NASCAR has in place. 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."
The results of this test in question are now being disputed, but spokesman David Black, whose Aegis Labs company conducts NASCAR's random drug tests, stands behind the results of the tests, saying, "What we have here is a clear violation of policy. In my many years of experience, I have never seen a violation like this due to the combination of over-the-counter or prescription products." Black went on to explain NASCAR's extremely tough stance on substance abuse, saying, "We have a clear violation of the program that could not be described as a misunderstanding. It is a violation that the policy must address. It's a strong policy, and we intend to enforce the policy."
This "strong" policy Black refers to is an understatement, as NASCAR is known for being tougher than most other sports in drug testing and punishing for substance abuse. Because of racing's extremely dangerous circumstances due to high speeds and split-second reactions, the sport has had to crack down on its drivers, testing for several other drugs or medications that could hinder performances. Stating beta blockers (a medication used to treat cardiac problems) or some over-the-counter cold medications as potential drugs that could be picked up on a drug test and are banned from the NASCAR circuit, Black went on to say that "the concerns are considerably different than other sports. We are very conscious about the effects of drugs on driving performance. It's really a zero-tolerance program that is looking for drugs with greater sensitivity. We're looking for a much broader listing of drugs that could affect the driving."
Now that Jeremy Mayfield has been revealed as testing positive for one of these banned substances, the next step for the Sprint Cup driver in returning to the NASCAR circuit is possible reinstatement, which could only come into play if Mayfield agrees to be seen by a health-care professional that specializes in substance abuse or addiction medicine, determining if/what kind of treatment is necessary before he can come back onto the racetrack. This could take any amount of time, so in taking precautionary measures, J.J. Yeley has been tapped as the interim driver while Mayfield's wife Shana takes over responsibilities as owner for her husband's No. 41 stock car. In the meantime, the race(s) must go on, and NASCAR tickets are still available from, so get 'em while they're still available - Mayfield or no Mayfield.
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