NASCAR asks for evaluations of Mayfield

[September 22, 2009]  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- NASCAR asked a federal judge Monday to order a mental and physical examination on suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield to determine if he has a substance-abuse problem and/or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The filing in U.S. District Court includes three affidavits and one deposition from four different people who claim to have witnessed Mayfield using methamphetamines multiple times since 1999.

The deposition is from former brother-in-law David Keith, who testified he witnessed Mayfield snort methamphetamine in his house, garage and car from 1998 through 2000. The deposition was taken Aug. 19, with attorneys for NASCAR and Mayfield in attendance, and Keith testified the driver's drug use escalated to daily usage.

NASCAR suspended Mayfield for failing a random drug test collected May 1 and said he twice tested positive for methamphetamines. Mayfield has denied using the illegal drug.

He is now suing NASCAR, alleging his positive test result from May 1 came from the mix of the prescription drug Adderall for ADHD and the allergy medication Claritin-D.

NASCAR asked U.S. District Judge Graham Mullen to order Mayfield to report for a psychiatric, neuropsychological and physical examination in November. NASCAR selected the physicians it wants to examine Mayfield.

Mayfield did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

The affidavits are from three friends of Mayfield's who know him from Kentucky. Barry Lee, Michael Buskill and Steven Russelburg all testified to witnessing Mayfield use methamphetamine.

Lee said he first witnessed Mayfield use methamphetamine in 1999 in the garage, at his home and on his boat, and saw the driver use at least 50 more times through 2000. His affidavit said Mayfield was driving him to Lowe's Motor Speedway in 1999 when he pulled over, said "You want to hit one?" and snorted methamphetamine off a mirror.

Ruskill, who said he lived on Mayfield's property from 2006 to 2007, also claimed to have witnessed Mayfield use methamphetamine.

"During that time, I frequently saw Jeremy use methamphetamine, almost on a daily basis," Russelburg said. "Most of the time this occurred at a barn on the property that had been converted to a shop."

He also testified that Mayfield stated he did not want his wife, Shana, to know about his drug use.

A previous motion filed by NASCAR included an affidavit from Mayfield's estranged stepmother, Lisa. She also claimed to witness the driver using methamphetamine on several occasions.

She has since filed a defamation of character suit against Mayfield, while he recently filed a Sept. 4 wrongful death lawsuit against Lisa Mayfield over the 2007 death of his father.

[Associated Press; By JENNA FRYER]

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