In the Mayfield case, there may be no real winners (cont'd)

Some victory. Let's be honest, though -- Mayfield was something of a bit player on the NASCAR scene before this saga began. It's been three years since he's been in what could be termed a quality ride, and team owners haven't exactly been beating down his door to hire him. It's not like he's searching for exoneration so he can jump into the No. 24 Chevy. The idea that this episode is damaging Mayfield's career, as Mullen seemed to intimate, is rather ludicrous given that even before his alleged positive drug test, he was owner/driver for a sponsor-strapped shoestring operation that had failed to qualify for six of 11 events. Mayfield's Cup career was effectively over long before this legal battle started. He was just trying to hang onto it.

Of course, he has every right to do that, as well as defend himself against what he feels are attacks on his reputation and his good name. When contested drug tests arise in other sports, players can file grievances through their respective players' associations. Of course, there is no such thing in NASCAR, which means the only recourse is court.

NASCAR isn't likely to emerge from this unblemished, either. Even if the sanctioning body's legal team were to ultimately win what is becoming a protracted legal battle, the folks in Daytona are still going to come across as somewhat vindictive (because of their countersuit) and bumbling (because of the way this random drug-testing policy has been implemented). Hey, no one questions NASCAR's intentions in wanting a zero-tolerance drug policy that bans anything endangering the focus, judgment, or fine motor skills of drivers or crewmen during a race. Most of the garage area even seems all for it. But clearly, the practical application of this policy needs a little fine-tuning -- an actual list of banned substances, perhaps? -- to prevent another situation like we have with Jeremy Mayfield, where in many eyes NASCAR looks like the big, bad sports league persecuting an innocent man.

Mayfield's guilt or innocence will ultimately be for the court to decide. So for now, here we are, at something of a stalemate. The driver is free to drive, but may not be able to afford to bring his own team to the race track, and may not be able to convince anyone else to put him in a car. The sanctioning body has a random drug-testing policy, but one that's being questioned in court and looked upon dubiously by the public. Somehow, when this is all finally over, you wonder if even the winning side is going to feel like it lost.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.