AJ Allmendinger Suspension got me to look ans see what happened to Jeremy Mayfield

All I can say is WOW. I had no idea that eh had fallen so far. Talking about a life falling apart. Kind of sad. Makes you wonder if NASCAR may have known or suspected something more when they suspended him and came down as hard as they did on him. I really thought he was getting a bad deal at the time but as it turns out he probably was not a victim of a false test or some other thing.

I really hope that the AJ Allmendinger test is something to do with the energy drink that he is sponsored by and not something more.

What happened? Jeremy Mayfield sounds like a brand of ice cream to me. I've heard of Almendinger at least.

They're Nascar drivers. Mayfield was kicked out a couple years ago for testing positive for meth. AJ recently tested postive for a stimulant, but has asked for a retest: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/story/2012-07-15/Penske-AJ-Allmendinger-would-return-if-test-negative/56236524/1 I'll wait to pass judgement on him until the results of that test come in.

Mayfield has now also been charged with a number of crimes like theft.

I hope that AJ is cleared by the second test.

RE: Jeremy M: I remember him outdriving Dale Sr. at Pocono. Classic. Dale was bitching about it after the race, but conceded that he had been out driven.

I am told that crack and meth are the toughest drugs to get free of.....I am praying for Jeremy...

Rog

emodspitfire wrote: I hope that AJ is cleared by the second test.

It appears that he has been and Penske announced he is back in the car for Indy.

Don't want to start the argument, but a performance enhancer for driving? Yes, it's physically taxing, but at least bicyclists have some excuse... I mean it's absolutely agonizing for me to ride more than 20 miles, but to drive hard, really hard, while physically tiring, isn't the same thing. Point being, you don't have to be in the same kind of shape to perform in an athletic event as opposed to a driving event.

I'm sorry, there is a small flounder-troll in my house right now I have to get rid of. The olympics are coming up and I have an aversion to the "athletic term" being applied to artistic or non-athletic (read: events that are subjective or don't cause the athlete to break a sweat).

^There is a huge troll in your post. Driving your Civic/Miata/Mustang for 20 minute sessions at the local track isn't ANYTHING like driving a NASCAR at nearly 200mph for HOURS on end.

The CO2 issue, vibration causing problems with vision and the retina's, etc etc etc.

*this from a guy who completely ignores NASCAR

I don't think its so much them worrying about a "performance enhancement" so much as seeking legitimacy. Other serious sports have a drug testing policy, so NASCAR must as well, to seem legitimate.

Same reason we have the chase, it's their playoffs.

I think Nascars drug testing deal is about right- They catch and ban coke and meth heads. I like that, cause just about the last thing I want beside me at 200 mph is this guy:

Steroids, I couldn't care less.

shadetree30 wrote:

emodspitfire wrote: I hope that AJ is cleared by the second test.

It appears that he has been and Penske announced he is back in the car for Indy.

Link? I see nothing to indicate the results from the B test have been announced yet.

z31maniac wrote: ^There is a huge troll in your post. Driving your Civic/Miata/Mustang for 20 minute sessions at the local track isn't ANYTHING like driving a NASCAR at nearly 200mph for HOURS on end. The CO2 issue, vibration causing problems with vision and the retina's, etc etc etc. *this from a guy who completely ignores NASCAR

while I'm well aware of the physical ability needed to race a car at the highest levels (or even below that), saying it is "hard" and causes a lot of sweating, and causes health problems, and requires one to be in good/great physical shape and have good strength.....etc doesn't make the driver an "athlete."

By that logic those guys in "Dealiest Catch" or the guy who was 90 feet up in my backyard topping a huge oak tree, or my garbage man are also athletes. Having to work hard at something that is physically demanding doesn't = being an athlete. It just = being someone who is in good physical shape.

While driving is taxing on the body, it does not require athletic ability per se. I'm sure there are plenty of drivers out there that are athletic, but just being a NASCAR (or F1, or Indy, or WRX) driver does not make someone an athlete, sorry.

For a complete "history" see here>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Mayfield

Most recently arrested for theft of over 100K of stuff. And they found meth in his house. Just sad really.

Teh E36 M3 wrote: Don't want to start the argument, but a performance enhancer for *driving*? Yes, it's physically taxing, but at least bicyclists have some excuse... I mean it's absolutely *agonizing* for me to ride more than 20 miles, but to drive hard, really hard, while physically tiring, isn't the same thing. Point being, you don't have to be in the same kind of shape to perform in an athletic event as opposed to a driving event. I'm sorry, there is a small flounder-troll in my house right now I have to get rid of. The olympics are coming up and I have an aversion to the "athletic term" being applied to artistic or non-athletic (read: events that are subjective or don't cause the athlete to break a sweat).

you also don't need to be in the same physical shape to play the position of a linebacker in a football game as you do to play tennis, but they are both considered athletes and neither of them would be in the ideal physical shape to drive a car at high speeds for hours on end and would probably be about ready to keel over after a race.. hell, baseball players are considered athletes and they spend 99% of the game just standing around with only a few short bursts of physical activity..

I'll just leave this here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wugOoyrxd2c&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I thought this was going to be a thread discussing some new suspension setup for oval racing.

Jeremy Mayfields' story is really sad. The fact that a mid-level driver in NASCAR made such a big story for his fall from grace is amazing. If it were the NFL or NBA, it probably wouldn't even be newsworthy, as it's commonplace.

Regarding drivers being atheltes, I guess it depends on what you define as an athelete and the level of competition. As novaderrick pointed out, would you call a 390lb defensive lineman with a huge beer gut an athelete? How about C.C Sabathia? A guy playing in AA baseball could be called an athelete, but a guy playing pick up softball in the local park? Maybe, maybe not. I could argue the same in racing. Doing it at the level most of us do it, you could argue being an "athelete" is not a requirement. But at the highest levels, you absolutely need to be in athletic condition. I just started doing LeMons racing this year. I've been working out hard for years, including lifting weights, running and a very regimented nutrition plan. I consider myself to be in extremely good condition for my age. Last month, I did a 1hr 45min stint on a very crowded race track on a warm and sunny day. My cool suit stopped working 5 minutes into my run. When I got out of that car, I had a whole newfound respect for what professional drivers go through. Yes, they're atheletes, no question about it.

If rapid coordination of eyes, hands and feet is not considered an athletic endeavor what is?

Jeff

Teh E36 M3 wrote: I'm sorry, there is a small flounder-troll in my house right now

Just gonna leave this here....

http://www.f1technical.net/articles/1125

irish44j wrote: While driving is taxing on the body, it does not require athletic ability per se. I'm sure there are plenty of drivers out there that are athletic, but just being a NASCAR (or F1, or Indy, or WRX) driver does not make someone an athlete, sorry.

It absolutely requires athletic ability. It sounds to me like you've never run 50 laps on a dirt track. I have, and I can tell you, it's not easy, and unless you're in good, really good shape and know how to use it, you're going to find out in a hurry. I also race motocross. You remind me of the people that say, how hard can that be? You're siting down all the time.

It's all pretty sad. One of the guys we used to race against was Shane Hmiel. He was the kid with the golden ticket and also threw it all away. He was also a real tool. No one wanted to race him. He and his crew would get in a fight every week, and some were banned even then for conduct. There was a level of talent there, which makes all the more sad.

It looks like he was turning it around and doing well in USAC until his wreck. Shane Hmiel.

As far as racers not being athetes, if you're in a top series, you definitely are. I've worked with a few and if you are going to run well, you have to be in incredible shape. You have to train like any other sport, and most have dietitians as well. And if you've never ran a 5 hour race in 140 degree temps in a car that handles like tractor, then you may not understand. It is physically and mentally draining.

You may not think of driving a race car as being physically taxing enough to be considered an athletic endeavor. But if you take into consideratioin the physical training drivers are doing these days to be in shape to drive a 500 mile race you'd have to say they're atheletes.

The strength training alone to develop the upper body and neck strength to handle the forces involved is serious work. The fact that several drivers recently ran at Daytona and then ran a triathalon the next day is pretty convincing as well.

athlete |ˈaθˌlēt| noun A person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise.

Motor racing is a sport. The driver of a professional motor racing car is proficient at it.

This is why we have dictionaries folks. So we can all share a common understanding of the language :)

Steroids can lead to wacky behavior, it's called 'roid rage'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabolic_steroid

Don't think I want the guy next to me at 100+ MPH having a 'roid rage' incident.

sport - a source of diversion

So all you people who love to jack off are apparently engaged in a sport, and thusly considered athletes.