BREAKING: NASCAR Announces 2011 Schedules

((HT: NASCAR their own selves))

The ideas and ruminations that NASCAR has had on their schedules have officially come out today for all of us to see...

OSG HQ has been keeping you on top of it all here...

“The adjustments and realignment of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule will make for an exciting race season next year,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “The revised schedule provides better situated dates for the tracks, a more challenging lineup for the drivers and ultimately more intrigue for the fans.”

To wit and in final:

The second race of the season goes to Phoenix a week after the Daytona 500. PIR replaces Fontana in Week 2. Texas takes over in the Phoenix spot on Saturday, April 9 for a night race.

Fontana will now run March 27. A second Kansas date follows the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and will be held on June 5. The Kentucky race will be held under the lights on Saturday, July 9.

The "Chase" will begin at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday, September 18th.
Chicagoland’s previous date was in early July, that now goes to Kentucky. New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which previously had the first Chase date, will now have the second, on September 25th.

The Nationwide Series:

34 races in 2011, all featuring the new car that is being run a total of four times this season.
Iowa Speedway gets a second date in 2011. May 22nd and Saturday, August 6th.
Chicagoland gets a date on Saturday, June 4th and again on Saturday, September 17th as part of a weekend tripleheader.
Road America returns on Saturday, June 25th.
Kentucky Speedway adds July 8.

The Truck Series:

The trucks will get 25 races, one of which will be announced at a future date.
Phoenix International Raceway used to do November, now they get February 25th.
Darlington Raceway moves from August to Saturday, March 12th.
Michigan's June race now goes with the August 20th race weekend.
Kentucky Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway will now be back-to-back in October on the 1st and 15th...

More when we know more...

Mayfield: "She Shot And Killed My Dad"

((HT: ESPN/Newton))

Jeremy Mayfield didn't spare his stepmother or NASCAR while defending himself against Wednesday's report that he again has tested positive for methamphetamines.

NASCAR filed court papers on Wednesday that said his most recent drug test came back positive, and included an affidavit from Mayfield's stepmother, Lisa, who claims to have seen the driver using drugs on numerous occasions.

Mayfield said he does not trust NASCAR testing and saved his strongest words for his stepmother.

"She's basically a whore," he told ESPN.com's David Newton. "She shot and killed my dad."

Mayfield's father, Terry, died in 2007 at age 56 of what the Chapel Hill, N.C., medical examiner called a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. There was no sign of criminal activity or foul play, according to the sheriff's report, which noted Lisa Mayfield said Terry Mayfield was "very depressed about not talking with his son, Jeremy, that this was only a matter of time."

Nevertheless, Mayfield told ESPN.com on Wednesday that his stepmother will be served with a wrongful death suit on Thursday.

"She knows what we've got on her," Mayfield said. "For her to come out and do this is pretty ballsy. Everybody that's ever known me knows I never, ever have been around her for more than 10 hours of my life. She's a gold digger. I knew that from day one."

Although he said he has no proof, Mayfield claimed that NASCAR paid Lisa Mayfield for her affidavit.

"It wouldn't take much money. She tried to get money from me," Mayfield said. "I have a very short fuse when it comes to her."

Mayfield said he has been tested for drugs every two to five days by an independent lab and never tested positive. He said it was no coincidence that the tests by NASCAR's lab resulted in his suspension and now, another positive test. In blasting NASCAR, he went straight for the top -- chairman Brian France.

"Brian France talking about effective drug programs is like having Al Capone talking about effective law enforcement," Mayfield said.

Mayfield, who was suspended in May for a violation of NASCAR's substance-abuse policy, had been granted a temporary injunction against his suspension, but that was before this latest test result came out. Now, he has no interest in getting back on the track and instead will concentrate on fighting these latest troubles.

"They're playing this high school [expletive], they better be ready," Mayfield said of NASCAR. "I'm coming after them in a big way. I'm prepared to go all the way and have the backing to do it if it takes everything I've got. I'm not going to back down for something I didn't do."

Here's Kevin Neghandi talking to a befuddled Marty Smith

France: NASCAR Drug Policy Fair

((HT: CBSSports))

Brian France defended NASCAR's drug testing policy as the toughest in professional sports, despite a federal judge's ruling that overturned driver Jeremy Mayfield's suspension.

Mayfield ((whose car is pictured, thanks NASCAR Images)) was indefinitely suspended May 9 for what NASCAR said was a positive test for methamphetamines. He sued to be reinstated, and a federal judge issued an injunction Wednesday that allowed Mayfield to return to competition based on Mayfield's argument that NASCAR's testing system is flawed.

U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen questioned the test results, saying the possibility of a false positive was "quite substantial" and ruled the harm to Mayfield significantly outweighed the harm to NASCAR.

But NASCAR's chairman said the sport needs a tough system that bans impaired drivers from competition.

"We remain very comfortable and very calm despite the ruling, that our policy is thorough, it's accurate, and it's fair," France said Friday at Daytona International Speedway, site of Saturday night's race.

"It's our responsibility to protect the drivers, the fans, other participants within the events. We have a very unique challenge relative to all sports, which is the inherent danger of somebody impaired on the racetrack."

Mayfield did not enter his car to race in Saturday night's event and would now only be able to compete as a NASCAR-approved relief driver. Although he said after the ruling he would travel to Daytona this weekend, he had yet to claim the credential needed to enter the garage area.

France said NASCAR is still exploring its legal options concerning the injunction. The civil suit filed by Mayfield and NASCAR's countersuit still remain.

But the chairman insisted NASCAR intends to defend its drug testing policy "very vigorously."

"Our first responsibility, despite the ruling on Wednesday or any ruling, will always be that we are going to make sure every way we can that everyone who is driving these race cars are of clear mind," France said. "We don't just go laying the hammer down and ruining someone's career. That's not what we are talking about when we are talking about Jeremy's situation.

"You know what he was tested for. That's unequivocal. There's no confusion about that from a science standpoint."
Mayfield has denied using methamphetamines and blamed the positive test result on the combined use of Adderall for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Claritin-D for allergies. That result was debunked by NASCAR's drug testing administrator.

"We know what it means, to anyone, to get such a positive test back," France said. "We are very comfortable that that test is accurate and reliable and will hold up, ultimately, when all of the facts are heard."

Mayfield's lawyers focused on federal guidelines that allow an individual a 72-hour window after a positive test to have the backup "B" sample analyzed by an independent laboratory. Because NASCAR's commissioned laboratory tested both of Mayfield's samples, lawyer Bill Diehl blasted the fairness of a process that did not give Mayfield the opportunity to challenge the results.

France, who took questions on the issue for about 45 minutes with NASCAR president Mike Helton and several top series officials watching from the back of the room, insisted NASCAR has a series of checks and balances in its testing process that prevents wrongful persecution.

"We had to have the toughest policy because we have the most to lose if one of our players is on ... the track impaired," France said. "We know we came up with a very good policy. People frequently test positive for one thing or another. It happens very, very frequently. It's very rare, though, that we do a suspension, because that's a very serious matter.

"We realize the seriousness and implications that has to an individual, to a race team, to their careers. It's why the policy has some built-in flexibilities."

Among them are allowances for prescribed medications taken as directed, but NASCAR makes it each individual's responsibility to keep officials informed of changes in health. In court documents filed before Wednesday's hearing, NASCAR alleged Mayfield never informed anyone he was taking Adderall.

France also said he's surprised at the confusion Mayfield's suspension has created, and questions of fairness about a tough policy meant to protect its participants.

"At some point when you have a positive test, it should be the end of the road," he said. "In our judgment, that some point is when your "B" sample comes back unequivocally and conclusively positive for a banned substance that impaired you in the doctors' and medical experts' eyes. That is our basic responsibility."

NASCAR Open To More Foreign Automakers

((HT: AJC/Mike Harris))

NASCAR ((pictured, thanks NASCAR Images)) says it would be open to other foreign manufacturers joining Toyota in stock car racing.

Chief executive Brian France says nothing is imminent but talks with several companies have been ongoing for a long time.

France spoke at Michigan International Speedway ahead of Sunday's Sprint Cup race. He was asked about the likelihood of companies like Japanese manufacturer Honda and some German automakers eventually competing in NASCAR.

He says foreign companies are interested in developing the North American market and NASCAR is the "pre-eminent place to consider."

"I'm not going to name names, but we have companies that are interested in particular in developing the North American market as robust as they can, and you are well aware as we are of the foreign manufacturers now producing cars here in America," France said. "That was part of the rationale that Toyota used, that (being in NASCAR) helps them associate more with this market."

France's comments come on the heels of an announcement earlier this week by GM, which is reorganizing through bankruptcy, that it is making deep cuts in its support of NASCAR teams in Cup, Nationwide and trucks, the latest in a series of harsh economic news for the sport.

"Well, obviously ... every (GM) program is affected and we're no different," he said. "We were hoping to have the most minimal of the impact with their decision to restructure their business. The details aren't all out yet and exactly what that will mean to us, but, obviously, we are affected.

"I think our job now is to figure out how to be good partners with them. They're trying to restructure their entire company to be a different company on the other side (of bankruptcy) and for us to be a part of that. And I think we will. I'm very confident that they'll be in the sport for many, many years because it works well."

GM's Chevrolet brand competes in NASCAR, along with Dodge, Ford and Japanese automaker Toyota. All of them have been hit hard by the crumbling international economy and France left the door open for other manufacturers to become part of the sport.

"We have been talking to people for off and on for a long time," he said. "These are decisions in terms of the new manufacturers joining the sport that would take a long time to evaluate and actually enter. So those aren't something that we turn the light switch on tomorrow morning and it would happen.

"Of course, we're the pre-eminent place in North America for car manufacturers to build their business with an auto racing group. We remain that and clearly there's some companies that are going to look at opportunities that may not have even been there in the past that could be presented in the future."

Under NASCAR rules, only cars manufactured in the U.S. are eligible to compete. Toyota joined the truck series in 2004 and, in 2007, became the first foreign manufacturers to compete NASCAR's the elite Cup series in 50 years.

"We'll have our philosophical approach to that in terms of welcoming new companies in as we did with Toyota," France added. "It is under a very clear set of circumstances that the manufacturers come to NASCAR to compete. And that will not change."

France said NASCAR will do whatever it can to help its teams, tracks and sponsors get through the tough economic times.

"The question is, with falling revenues in every sports league, what are you going to do to help to figure out the way forward?" France said. "For us, we have a huge interest in the sponsorship model. We're more dependent on it than anyone else. So we're affected."

He said NASCAR will look to new companies, new technologies and, particularly, to the growing green industry to help build the sport.

"So we'll be looking at figuring out, like anyone in our position, how to create new opportunities for new companies building brands and services here in NASCAR," he said. "Because existing companies, that our teams have in particular relied on, are changing. And that's just the reality."

Those of us at OSG HQ were joking the other day about the likelihood of the #27 Brian's Oaktree Express/Hyundai Accent winning a North Wilkesboro race. We aren't joking about it anymore.

Doctor: Mayfield Was Told What Created Positive Test

((HT: Yahoo Sports))

The administrator of NASCAR's drug-testing program said Monday he personally told Jeremy Mayfield ((pictured, thanks YahooSports)) what banned substance was found in his positive test.

Dr. David Black, CEO of Aegis Sciences Corp., which runs the testing program, said he specifically identified the drug in several conversations with the Sprint Cup driver over a three-day period after NASCAR suspended him.

"I spoke with him about his positive test result on the day he was suspended, and I spoke to him directly about the test result," Black told the Associated Press. "Yes, by name of what he tested positive for."

On Saturday, Mayfield said he was never told what drug caused the positive test and has yet to receive a copy of the results.

Black said he was not sure if Mayfield has seen the test results because a copy would be issued by NASCAR, not Aegis.

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said he was not aware of any request by Mayfield to obtain the results.

"We'd be happy to provide one if he wants it," Poston said. "We've done this in the past upon request for those who tested positive."
Mayfield maintains the use of a prescription drug with over-the-counter allergy medication Claritin-D led to his positive result.

((Perhaps, he got his advice from fellow driver Carl Edwards...))


Black has repeatedly rejected that explanation.

"I did address specifically and explicitly what he tested positive for, and that led to the discussion of his over-the-counter and prescription use," Black said. "I explained carefully and completely that his positive test result was not related to an over-the-counter or a prescription.

"They were not the cause, and could not be the cause, of his result."

NASCAR has refused to reveal the substance. Citing that policy, Black also declined to identify the drug.

NASCAR chairman Brian France has described Mayfield's test as a "serious violation" of the substance-abuse policy, and he categorized that as use of a performance-enhancer or a recreational drug. A person familiar with the test results has told the AP the positive test was not for performance-enhancers, meaning the positive test resulted from an illegal recreational drug.

Mayfield, who watched a portion of Saturday night's All-Star events from the top of a hospitality suite in the infield of Lowe's Motor Speedway, told reporters he did not use an illegal drug, insisting he used Claritin-D and a prescription drug he declined to identify.

"They didn't say what I took. They don't know what I took," Mayfield said. "A legal prescription drug, that's what I take. And I had allergies at Richmond that were really, really bad. On [May 7] I got a call and said you've tested positive for whatever they called it.

"I said, 'OK, no problem. I've got all my paperwork ready.' He said 'You'll fax that to us; it'll cancel out your test."'

Mayfield said his next conversation with NASCAR was two days later, when he was told his backup "B" sample had also tested positive and he had been suspended.

NASCAR said there were numerous conversations between Mayfield and a medical review officer before he was suspended.

Black would not say what prescription drug Mayfield said he had used in conjunction with Claritin-D.

"He did bring up Claritin-D as a part of his explanation, and I was very clear that Claritin-D was not responsible for his positive test," he said. "It could result for a positive pseudoephedrine test, but not for the drug that he's tested positive for."

Black said his last conversation with Mayfield was one week ago, and he was left with the impression the driver would participate in the reinstatement process and "move on in a positive manner."

Since then, Aegis representatives have been unsuccessful in speaking to Mayfield about starting a rehabilitation process, Black said.

Mayfield said Saturday he would not go to rehab and may seek legal action to rescind his indefinite suspension.

Here was the announcement when the story broke in the first place
((HT: SpeedTV))

Don't Be Changin' My Channel, The Race Ain't Over!!!

I learned a long time ago never to tick off a true blue NASCAR fan. They are the most loyal and most down to earth bunch I've been around, but don't cross them.

Well ABC did this weekend electing to switch the last 34 laps of the race to basic cable, or more specifically, ESPN2, for America's Funniest Home Videos. To NASCAR fans and it's insiders, it's not funny.

"We didn't like it, that was not what we had anticipated but we have talked to them repeatedly in the last couple days," NASCAR Grand Pooh-Bah Brian France said. "There were lots of circumstances that we have to consider. They have their own issues they had to manage around. Unfortunately we got the short end of that."

"I knew we were in trouble when I looked at the monitor and saw a monkey scratching its butt." one team member from Jimmie Johnson's crew said.

The switch happened between 7:30 - 8pm eastern & central time. In the 7 - 7:30 time slot before channels changed, ABC had a 4.6 rating.

So let's see, Jimmie Johnson is wins the race on the verge of making NASCAR history by capturing his 3rd straight Sprint Cup title and dad's getting kick in the balls by their kids is better and more compelling TV? Who's getting kick in the jimmie's here (no pun intended)

The Worldwide Leader was so anxious to get NASCAR back a few years back and ABC seemed ready and willing to go along for the ride but is obvious that the Sprint Cup races do not warrant airing to their conclusion like football, baseball or even golf. Would a network switch the conclusion of the next to last event in the Fed Ex Cup if Tiger Woods was involved and on top of the leaderboard? I don't think so and right now, Jimmie Johnson is as dominant in Sprint Cup as much as Tiger has been to golf. I can think of a few reasons why but will refrain at this time.

I talked to an individual today who covers NASCAR. He told me that now the sanctioning body has a good idea now where they stand now.

Hopefully the powers that be realize this cannot happen at the race this weekend at Homestead where Jimmie Johnson is set make history. Keep your remote handy though.

Brian France Photo Courtesy: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images
Jimmie Johnson Photo Courtesy: Christian Petersen/Getty Images