Mayfield working on 'big' sponsor deal, seeking ride (cont'd)

Mayfield's attorneys on Monday filed paperwork in District Court in Charlotte asking the injunction remain in effect. Poston said the sanctioning body has filings challenging it with both the U.S. District Court and the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va.

"The appeals court could rule at any time and the District Court would rule some time after receiving Mayfield's reply [from Monday]," Poston said.

An independent drug test on Mayfield on July 6 was negative for methamphetamines, contradicting the results of the NASCAR test taken 40 minutes earlier, the driver claimed in court documents filed Tuesday.

In response to NASCAR's claim that Mayfield again tested positive for methamphetamines on July 6, Mayfield on Tuesday submitted an affidavit to the U.S. District Court that said he traveled to Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, N.C., right after NASCAR collected a sample at his Catawba County home.

Tuesday morning, Mayfield was baffled by NASCAR's alleged refusal to allow him to compete. He said he's continued to take Adderall for a diagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

"That's the first I've heard that they wouldn't allow me on a race track, and I don't know how they could overrule a federal judge about allowing me on the race track," Mayfield said. "But it wouldn't surprise me; because that's why they're in the situation they're in right now, and the same reason why they were in a situation with [Tim] Richmond, and the same reason why they were in the situation with Mauricia Grant [discrimination lawsuit that was settled out of court].

"Because they're the almighty, they're the big dog, they're the huge company that can do whatever they want to do and don't have to abide by any laws, any federal guidelines. They don't have to listen to what a federal judge says, I guess that's what they're saying, and sooner or later the federal government is going to step in.

"[NASCAR] hasn't really won anything yet, and they're [upset] about that. [NASCAR] doesn't really have any say-so about whether I go back on a race track or not. I really take this as discrimination. If they say I can't get on the race track, for what reason? If they're saying it's because I've got ADD and I take Adderall, now they're discriminating against me, or blackballing me, whichever you want to call it.

"I just can't believe they wouldn't allow me on the race track, which I guess is at their discretion, again."

NASCAR has contended since it suspended Mayfield that due to his alleged failed drug tests, he's a danger to other competitors and to the public.

Mayfield said he's trying to create the groundwork for what he hopes will be a return to Sprint Cup competition as a driver, with a sizeable sponsorship. Mayfield said he's working with Robert Craddock of SmallSponsor.com, who backed Mayfield Motorsports earlier this season, on a possible deal with a company the driver said was involved in the sport earlier in his career.

"We're getting real close on doing that, as a matter of fact it's closer than I ever dreamed of," Mayfield said. "And trust me, the money we're talking about, I could probably go to any team out there and drive for them. We're on a mission now to raise enough money where it's gonna be hard for any team out there to turn this down.

"I'm the only one right now that fits their mold. It's somebody that's involved in everything that goes on in America, really. They're going to show the world that they're going to help the guy that needs help. Trust me, they're bigger than NASCAR and when they come back in a big way they're going to show they're not going to let the big company destroy the little man. That's what they're all about; they don't ever let the company run over the worker."

But in light of what he experienced in the aftermath of the injunction being issued, he said the court case would have to be dealt with, first.

"Before I get any owner involved, I want to get the deal done, where I can walk in the garage area and say I've got whatever it is -- $15 million a year or whatever it takes -- and then to be able to see how it all works out," Mayfield said. "I've got to do something and going back and trying to run my own team and barely making races is not want I want to do. I want to go back in a big way. (Continued)