Sprint Cup Series driver and team owner Jeremy Mayfield was not present at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, one day after a federal judge granted him a temporary injunction to race again, beginning with this weekend’s Coke Zero 400.
Mayfield had until 3 p.m. (et) to officially enter his team for Saturday’s 400-mile race at Daytona. MiamiHerald.com
Much of Thursday passed with media and drivers waiting to see if Mayfield’s Sprint Cup Series team would arrive in time to enter Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400. His team never showed and as far as could be determined, Mayfield never stepped on speedway property.
“Jeremy and his legal team asked for a preliminary injunction for emergency relief because it was necessary, apparently, to come here and compete at Daytona,” said NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston. “So, apparently, he’s not here and it appears he’s not going to compete this weekend which raises the question of how much an emergency it really was.”
Mayfield’s only opportunity now to participate in Saturday night’s race is as a relief driver, but that can only happen if Cup series director John Darby approves a driver change.
While it appeared Mayfield’s return would wait for next weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, the fallout from Wednesday’s judicial decision continued. CharlotteObserver.com
