Mayfield still trying to understand his suspension

CONCORD, N.C. -- Jeremy Mayfield made an appearance at the NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race Saturday night, vowing that he is "alive, well and healthy" and adding that he still is struggling to understand why NASCAR has suspended him indefinitely for allegedly violating its substance abuse policy.

Mayfield was suspended indefinitely as both owner and driver by NASCAR following what NASCAR said was a positive test for "a drug of concern" prior to last Saturday's Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Mayfield was the owner and driver of the No. 41 Toyota that was driven to a 22nd-place finish in Saturday's Sprint Showdown by J.J. Yeley, who replaced him as driver. For the time being, his wife, Shana, is listed as owner of the car.

Perception battle

With so many unanswered questions and Jeremy Mayfield proclaiming innocence, David Caraviello wants to wait before labeling Mayfield a drug user.

• Complete story
• Wide array in tests
• Mayfield suspended
• Yeley interim driver
• NASCAR: Ensuring safety

"All I can say is you can see I'm alive, well and healthy. I'm fine," Mayfield told a small group of reporters. "I'm here to watch my car run. I appreciate what y'all [in the media] have done because y'all are asking the right questions to the right sources and getting the same results. ... They've indicated something different every day of the week. That's what I've heard. I've heard the same stories y'all have heard. I really don't want to say a whole lot to stir anything up."

Yet Mayfield's very presence at the track stirred up NASCAR officials, who questioned why he had attended the event while under suspension in the first place and also strongly refuted his assertions that he has not been informed of why specifically he has been suspended.

"All NASCAR members who violate the policy, including Jeremy, are notified of the substance that caused the failure," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "Jeremy was verbally informed of the substance on three occasions last week by NASCAR's medical review officer. NASCAR stands by the reputable physicians and the nationally renowned lab that handles our substance abuse program."

As for Mayfield's decision to attend Saturday's Showdown, Poston said Mayfield misunderstood that he was not permitted to do so while under suspension.

"No suspended driver or crew member is permitted in any area of the track where NASCAR business or responsibilities are conducted," Poston said. "This includes, but is not limited to, the garage, spotters stand, pit road, driver/owner lot, and hospitality areas.

"There seems to have been a misunderstanding on Jeremy's part. NASCAR officials spoke with him and he understands the rules of suspension and agreed to comply."

Nonetheless, Mayfield indicated earlier that he is exasperated by what he said was the lack of information he has received about his positive test results.

"If any of you guys were in my shoes, wouldn't you want to know your results of what happened? I've got nothing from them. I got reinstatement papers, that's it. I'd like to see results and I don't have them," Mayfield said.

Mayfield insisted -- again -- that he took a prescription drug and that his allergies flared up so badly during the recent Richmond race weekend that he mixed over-the-counter medicine with it. He said the over-the-counter medicine consisted of two Claritin D pills.

"That's the honest-to-God truth," Mayfield said.

Mayfield had earlier made that same assertion that a combination of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicine had triggered his positive test and it was roundly rejected as implausible by NASCAR.

Mayfield added that he respects NASCAR for what they are trying to accomplish with their new, tougher drug policy. But in this case, he said he doesn't feel like he has been able to fairly explain his position -- and thus he feels as if he is being unfairly labeled as some kind of drug abuser.

"I understand their test policy; I understand what they're trying to do. I just wish that I had a little bit of consideration to explain what my side was," he said.

Mayfield said he would move as quickly as possible to get reinstated as owner and driver. He also strongly denied that he has taken illegal drugs of any kind.

"Yeah, I'm denying it. Illegal drugs? Yeah, definitely," Mayfield said. "I swear I can't tell you anymore ... all I want to do is race and be treated fairly.

"Here I am, trying to do the best I can. ... I'm labeled now. The damage is done. It's huge. My family, my friends, everybody that knows me knows better. It's a huge deal, and it's been frustrating. I'd like to have been back in the car this week. All I want to do is work with them. I'll work with them any way they want. They can drug test [me] any day they want. I'll go for it."

Mayfield added that he has no intention of attending any kind of drug rehabilitation counseling.

"I'm not going to rehabilitation. Why would I?" he said. "Would you go to rehab if you didn't have a problem?"