Top storylines of 2009: Kentucky Speedway saga and “Mayfield Mania” flare up in recent weeks

If you thought America’s past-time had a steroid/drug problem, then you haven’t seen anything yet. In the past two weeks I’d venture to bet that half of the articles surrounding NASCAR are pieces on suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield.

Mayfield was suspended indefinitely before the Southern 500 two weeks ago (more on that race tomorrow) for failing a drug test at Richmond one week prior. Mayfield claims he took Clairitin-D and another unreleased prescription drug that combined to show a positive on his test. Dr. David Black, of Aegis Sciences, who runs NASCAR’s testing program, feels that Mayfield’s claims are totally false.

Yesterday, Mayfield hired lawyers to look into getting the banished driver re-instated. NASCAR originally told Mayfield he’d have to complete a rehab course. “If that program is successfully completed, then the competitor may attempt to seek reinstatement,” NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said after the suspension was levied. Mayfield has repeatedly said he will not take a rehab course for allergy medications, claiming his allergies were very active the weekend of the Richmond race.

Now, as one NASCAR writer put it, it’s a case of he said, NASCAR said. Unfortunately, as much as I’d like to believe both sides, one has the burden of proof, and that right now sits with NASCAR. However, the list of drugs Mayfield tested positive for was released to his lawyers. What happens from here will probably happen in a court of law, where one is supposed to be “innocent until proven guilty”. Tell that to NASCAR.

In other courts of law across this beautiful country we call home, a 6^th District Court of Appeals—located here in delightful Cincinnati, Ohio, my hometown—currently has a case of the formers owners of Kentucky Speedway vs NASCAR/ISC on the docket. The schedule foe the court will be released in a few weeks, and it will be then before we hear if the case will even be tried, make that re-tried, before the month of June is up.

NASCAR has already started sanctioning tracks for next year’s schedule, a schedule that Bruton Smith, current owner of Kentucky Speedway, hoped would contain a date with his newest track. Unfortunately for him, the previous owners will not drop the suit against NASCAR.

Bruton Smith has put a lot of time and effort into getting the track in Sparta, Kentucky ready for a Sprint Cup race, including adding level parking lots and infield campgrounds. Also in the mix is the addition of more seating and a fan friendly garage area. The current garage area and infield is pass access only.

The local media is finally getting fired up about NASCAR writing opinion pieces like this one the famous Cincinnati sports columnist Paul Daugherty that appeared Monday. (http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090517/COL03/905180333/1007/SPT/Speedway+standoff+fun+to+watch) Beyond that, as I have stated in my past posts, the local media could care less about Motorsports—except when they need to.

During the ARCA race a few weeks back (ironically enough, it was during the weekend of the Southern 500 and the Mayfield suspension) the next morning’s story wasn’t about the race and how it ended up. In fact, I had to wait to find out who won the race by watching TV. The story was all about how Kentucky Speedway made improvements and deserved a Cup race.

I don’t fault Kevin Kelly—the Cincinnati Enquirer’s writer that generally covers Ky Speedway—for trying, but sometimes, enough is enough.

--------------------------------------------------

Tomorrow I hope you join me for the final episode in this series of posts looking back at the top stories of the 2009 season so far. We’re nearly through one-third of the season and I’m looking forward to bringing you what I felt were some of the more fun moments—moments plural, and I haven’t been able to say that in 10 years—of this young 2009 season. Storyline number 5 tomorrow.