Jeremy Mayfield, who drives the #41 All Sport Toyota Camry in the Sprint Cup Series, was suspended indefinitely on May 9 for failing a random drug test.
According to NASCAR race officials, Mayfield failed a test that was administered last weekend at Richmond International Raceway. Spokesman Jim Hunter would not reveal the name of the banned substance but said it was not an alcohol related offense. He offered, “There is no place for substance abuse in our sport.”
Mayfield released the following statement: “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. My doctor and I are working with both Dr. David Black and NASCAR to resolve the matter.”
The 39 year old driver has had 5 Cup victories in 433 career starts. His last win was in 2005 in Michigan. The #41 Toyota will have an interim car owner and replacement driver for the duration of Mayfield’s suspension, as required under racing rules.
Mayfield is the first Sprint Cup driver to be sanctioned since the tougher new drug policy went into effect at the beginning of the 2009 racing season. Under the new rules, all drivers and crew members are tested before the beginning of the race season and four drivers are tested each weekend, with their names being selected by an automated computer program.
Check out the announcement by NASCAR officials on video below.