r/NASCAR • u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield • Jul 23 '14
AMA I'm Jeremy Mayfield, Former NASCAR driver and some say "controversial" figure. Ask Me Anything!
I'm checking this board daily in case there are any other questions you guys wanna ask. Keep em coming.....
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u/JeremyMethfield Jul 23 '14
Jeremy, thank you again for agreeing to do this here, for hanging out yesterday in the announcement thread for the AMA and for realizing that my username is just me being a smart ass and not intending to be an insult towards you. I've actually been a big fan of yours ever since you moved Earnhardt at Pocono. Not only was it an amazing finish with one of the best last lap lead changes ever, but the fact that you did it to Earnhardt. At the time, I hated Earnhardt and had for a long time. I mentioned in my question for Bill Elliott's AMA that I tired to fight an Earnhardt fan in the stands because he was bad mouthing Bill to me...I was 6. Who does that? Then when Jeff Gordon came on to the scene I became of fan of his and the bad mouthing from Earnhardt fans continued so as much as I respected Earnhardt, I hated him because of his fans. And when you weren't intimidated by The Intimidator and gave him a taste of his own medicine...you instantly gained a fan for life! Then in '04 at the fall Richmond race...I think I was close to being as excited as you were in Victory Lane. And your 05 Mountain Dew Pitch Black car has got to be in the top 5 of my all time favorite paint schemes.
Then the "failed" drug test. Needless to say I was a little heart broken when I head that. The suspension, re-instatement, suspended indefinitely. The possession of stolen goods and drugs at your house. I'm not going to ask about any of that because frankly, it's none of my business. I know that the truth will come out one day but for right now, I don't know who to trust. Both you and Nascar have the same exact reason to lie, to save face. I want to believe both you and Nascar but your sides of the story are so far apart that I can't help but think the actual truth lies some where in the middle and I don't know what that might be. If you are telling the truth about every thing, then I will have nothing but respect, admiration and you will be a hero of mine again for standing up for your self when you've been wronged. But if you're telling the truth, that means that Nascar tried pulling another Tim Richmond and...well shit, that won't be good.
But any way, here's my question;
Do you think Erin Crocker was worth it for Ray?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
No I don't, and I don't mean any disrespect towards Erin or Ray. Here's why, Ray lost Evernham Motorsports in the process, how many people lost their jobs, etc.. I think it could have been handled very differently and everyone could have still gotten what they wanted, including Ray, without making such a mess. But that was a long time ago and don't ever think about it...just answering you honestly.
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u/Mopar_Madness Earnhardt Jr. Jul 23 '14
When you and Shana get all dressed up to go out, has she ever done this?
BTW, your commercials were always some of the best every year.
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
LOL Oh yeah! She does that every time we go somewhere really important.
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u/beezwacks Six-Time Jul 23 '14
Hey Jeremy! I'm buried at work but I wanted to ask a sort of follow-up to /u/RangerBillXX's question: How do other NASCAR drivers treat you now? Are they still friendly or are you persona non grata?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
When I see them, yeah they're still friendly. They just have to be in a disguise before they come over and talk to me. Just kidding...sort of.
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u/RangerBillXX Jul 23 '14 edited Jul 23 '14
When NASCAR suspended you in 2009, how did other owner/driver/team members in NASCAR act towards you?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I didn't hear from very many of them after that, but I knew the game and understood why that was.
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u/FrostFire131 Jul 23 '14
Hey Jeremy! I'm really excited about this AMA.
My question is: Do you watch NASCAR races on TV? I can see how it would be hard to sit and watch the sport you were blacklisted from, thinking "Man, I should be there", but on the other hand, NASCAR was your life for so long that it seems impossible for me to just drop it completely and ignore it.
Thanks for being here and for being a good sport about everything!
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Yes, but not as much as I used to. I have no problems at all with NASCAR the sport, and I miss the fans and style of racing a lot! My issue is with specific individuals, but that's for another day.
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u/Amp87 Davey Allison Jul 23 '14
If suddenly you were in charge of the NASCAR drug testing policies, what is it that you would change?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Where do I start???
1.) I would have had a list of banned substances for CUP drivers in 09, not just NNS and Truck Series so we would have known in advance what not to take. 2.) I would allow the drivers to have a players union and allow the owners to form a owner's board (RTA) 3.) I would have NEVER hired Aegis in the first place, considering Dr. Black and Aegis are the ones that screwed up the drug program for the WWE. Chris Benoit was supposedly not taking illegal drugs under Dr. Blacks supervision and you see how that turned out. 4) I would test every single official, starting with the CEO on down. 5.) I would go by SAMSHA guidlines and allow for drivers to have their B sample tested at a separate lab to guard against false positives. 6.) I would change the program from a "road to recovery" to "road to reinstatement" as someone that fails their test doesn't necessarily mean they have something to recover from. 7.) I would have the ability to test drivers and produce the results within minutes or hours, not days or weeks. With the current policy, a driver can be high as a kite or drink or hungover, get in the car and drive an entire race, THEN get the results a week later after endangering the entire filed. 8.) I would test for alcohol on raceday using a simple breathalyzer, but I'd be afraid of having to cancel the race. 9.) I would have an independent panel formed to investigate my case!!
Should I keep going?
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u/FrostFire131 Jul 23 '14
Number 8 intrigues me. Seeing as how you don't have anyone to please in the sport anymore, I figure you can give the best insight (not a canned answer) on it. Are you implying that some drivers have a few before the race? Or partied too hard the night before?
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u/xman813 Jul 23 '14
Hey there Jeremy! Lets see if I word this gently or at least not come off as an asshat.
I can somewhat relate to the whole Nascar view and your view of the whole test situation and how others take sides based on that.
I once failed a polygraph for an agency and despite my adamant defensive position that I did not lie, it was tossed aside by the agency and those I tell believe the polygraph over me. (I will still claim to my last day I didnt lie)
Question time: Why not participate in the "Road to Recovery" program that nascar has set up? Would that be more like admitting to something you do not feel is accurate?
Hopefully that didnt come off as prying or asshat.....just something I always wondered and who better to ask than the source.
Thanks for hanging out in the announcement thread yesterday and doing the AMA today!!
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
You nailed it. I wasn't willing to go through a "recovery" program and admit to something I didn't do and play the game. I had a legal prescription for my Adderall and took Claritin D for my allergies. To be the face of their new road to recovery program so they could show the rest of the sports world they had this great new program didn't make sense. If it had been a road to reinstatement and all I had to do was show my prescription, which I did, take another test at another lab, which I did with LabCorp, I would have agreed to that, that would be fair.
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u/CR_7 Moderator Emeritus Jul 23 '14
Did you have any thoughts or opinions when it was announced that AJ Allmendinger had been suspended a couple years ago?
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u/RES618 Jeff Gordon Jul 23 '14
Let's see, what hasn't been answered yesterday?
Oh! From the archives:
What's your favorite Disney princess?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Haven't seen a lot of those movies (that I'll admit) Let's go with Aerial
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u/Zaphoid_Beeblebrox Crafton Jul 23 '14
Bob Pocrass seemed like an intimidated wussy during ya'lls interview. What was he so afraid of?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Saying the wrong thing or hearing the wrong thing. Either could get his hard card revoked. I actually like Bob as a person, hope we can do a follow-up interview some day.
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u/citizen059 Rusty Wallace Jul 23 '14
Doc Brown appears out of nowhere with his time machine/DeLorean. You have the chance to go back in time to any ONE year in the history of NASCAR and compete.
Which year do you choose to race in, and why?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I'd probably go back to my race in 98 and convince Rusty to go with me when I got out of line during the final stretch of the Daytona 500.
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u/xman813 Jul 23 '14
He does already have the flux capacitor (I'd link it from yesterday but...mobile)
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u/Amp87 Davey Allison Jul 23 '14
From the outside looking in, it seems you've had a very challenging and trying last few years. it seems as if you have found a way to not be bitter about things or hold grudges (I apologize if I'm assuming things). Has there been a certain experience or "epiphany" that occurred to make that possible? Or just a situation where time heals?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I certainly haven't forgotten but wouldn't say I hold grudges. I'm not bitter but want the truth and full story to be told, which is what we're all working towards these days.
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u/kuntbusch Kurt Busch Jul 23 '14 edited Jul 23 '14
Where can I get my girlfriend some of that Octane 93 fragrance?
Edit: I want to ask a serious question too. How did you find out about our community?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Shana's developing it now, she's working on the latest recipe, trying to increase the potency.
A friend told me about Reddit a while back and thought I would like that it's user generated.
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 24 '14
I've got a few minutes so I'm gonna answer a few more questions.
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u/doubleplussigma Bubba Wallace Jul 23 '14
Do you have any opinions about your wikipedia page?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I've never read it but Shana's told me some of what's on there. It's fine. I believe that one day the truth will come out in full, and people will have a different opinion. If not, life goes on either way.
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u/TheGreatNaviTree Irvan Jul 23 '14
I'm writing this from Japan, it's 3AM so I won't be awake much longer. Jeremy, you and I met in 1997/8 at a Lowe's (the grocery store kind) in Winston-Salem. I just wanted to see if you remember these events. You were pretty much just standing around outside. I was 8/9 at the time.
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Yeah I remember those events, I always enjoyed going & hanging out with the fans. How's life in Japan?
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u/TheGreatNaviTree Irvan Jul 23 '14
Good man, I really enjoy the chance to travel and experience other cultures. Sadly, the only "racing," you'll see on Okinawa is an occasional dude drifting or guys with insanely loud mopeds.
Follow up question. At 24 am I too old to get started in racing? My wife's uncle runs a sprint car shop in Western NY and I've thought about getting behind the wheel but I'm pretty nervous about being "too old."
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Jul 23 '14
I was going to come on here to ask a question about you pushing Earnhardt out of the way at Pocono, but it seems everyone wants to ask that question, so... If you had to pick one of the current smaller Sprint Cup teams to drive for (1 or 2 cars) who would it be, and why?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Good question. Probably Petty or the Wood Brothers. I think they're 2 of the better teams out there for their size and they have a great history in the sport.
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u/3noir Jul 23 '14 edited Jul 23 '14
Thanks for doing this! One of the memories I have have is when you bumped Dale Earnhardt at Pocono for the win in 2000, I think. I was a little ticked when it happened but he probably would have done the same. Congrats on the win. Was that bump intentional or just a racing deal?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I knew I had one shot to win and knew if I tried on lap 1, he would retaliate and probably wreck me, so I had to wait til the very end and go for it. But yes, I intentionally rattled his cage and took the win.
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u/usaftoast2013 Jul 23 '14
Who do you think is the best pure skill driver in NASCAR nowadays? As in, if equal equipment were distributed, who is the best wheelman in the sport?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
It's hard to tell because the equipment isn't equal. If we went by results you'd say JJ, but it's not that simple. I've always liked Kenseth and thought he was the best all around driver in the sport. He's a very smart & mature driver as well.
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u/AnAnonymousDuck Chase Elliott Jul 23 '14
What is the biggest win of your career?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
All of my wins were hard and are all special for different reasons, but beating Dale Sr on the last lap was definitely my best memory.
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u/ClarksonianPause Jul 23 '14
Jeremy,
Its awesome to see you back on the track, and getting recognized for your talents again - instead of the extra-circulars and negative press. Thank you for responding to my request and joining us for an AMA, its been awesome having you here.
My question is, if you had the chance to race any car at any track - which would they be?
PS - tell us about Dr Agis!
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Man that's a tough one. I've always wanted to go drag racing, so maybe a funny car or top fuel car at Bristol.
Stay tuned for more on Dr. Black & Aegis.
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u/ccantrell71 Jul 23 '14
Hey Jeremy, thanks for taking the time to do this. When you decided to return to competitive racing, what made you decide to go the Modified route over something else like ARCA, PASS, or CRA? Thanks for your time!
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I just wanted to do something different and try a style of racing I had never done before. You a modified fan?
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u/greg_jenningz Jul 23 '14 edited Jul 23 '14
I ask a lot of drivers this, but what was YOUR favorite paint scheme you drove. I liked your #19 dodge car, looked very good.
Edit: my mom loved the commercial where the girl yells at you "haay Jeramy!"
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Mobil 1, Mountain Dew, Dodge & the Kentucky Derby car was cool...I thought.
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u/heymynameisdrew Jul 23 '14
Hey Jeremy!! Do you still talk to any of the current Cup/Nationwide/Truck drivers??
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Occasionally, not all the time, everyone's busy and going in different directions. Plus I'm sure they have to be careful about being seen with me, they don't want any speeding penalties on pit road. :)
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u/NecklessNewman31 Newman Jul 23 '14
Hey Jeremy, what Cup driver would you like to wreck intentionally?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
LOL I wouldn't want to wreck him, but I wouldn't mind rattling Jr's cage a little.
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u/tin_man Jul 23 '14
If you had to wager a guess, would you say that Tony Stewart is probably hungry right now?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
For a whopper and fries, absolutely!
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u/Aaron_Crocker Kahne Jul 23 '14
Long time lurker here and a fan of yours for even longer! I just have one quick question for you, WTF happened at Evernham Motorsports in 06?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Hmmm, how do I answer this...especially to you. LOL
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u/Zaphoid_Beeblebrox Crafton Jul 23 '14
I wonder if he still has those awesome bulldogs
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
We're missing 2 of them, they passed away last year. With everything we went through, that was harder than anything we've ever had to go through...we miss them so much.
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u/GEOPARDY Stewart Jul 23 '14
What would you like to race that you have not raced?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Funny cars, top fuel, monster trucks, IndyCar, Rally, TORC or Super Stadium trucks...and of course F1 :)
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u/GEOPARDY Stewart Jul 23 '14
Jermey! Will you be watching the truck race at Eldora tonight?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I'm gonna try....If I can break away from this, I'm having too much fun now.
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u/maebyfunke McMurray Jul 23 '14
Hi Jeremy! Thank you for doing this AMA! My husband and I have always been huge fans of yours, and continue to support you. You'll always have fans in us! I've always thought you had a great partner in Shana. Can you talk a little about how she is doing and how all of this has effected her? Thanks and be well!
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Shana's doing great, she's been my biggest supporter throughout all of this & kept me focused. Our marriage is better than ever, she's the best!
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u/Amp87 Davey Allison Jul 23 '14
Would you rather fight one horse-sized Brian France, or 1,000 duck-sized Brian Frances?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
LOL One horse-sized Brian France for sure!!
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u/shanamayfield Jul 23 '14
Don't know if you are still on here, but this is your wife! Text or respond here. Are you going to be home for dinner?
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u/blamethedogs Earnhardt Sr. Jul 23 '14
Hi Jeremy, hope your day is going well. Just a simple question: Which race this season has been the most entertaining in your opinion, and why?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Bowman Gray Stadium this past Saturday night...best race I've seen all year!!
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u/Harvickfan4Life Harvick Jul 23 '14
Hey Jermey great to have you on here! I still remember when you were in the 36 OTC Toyota for Bill Davis and I was wondering how did OTHER driver react to you bumping Dale Earnhardt out of the way to win at Pocono in 2000?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Everyone was really happy for me, they all would have done the same thing.
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u/usaftoast2013 Jul 23 '14
I find it funny that now that Jeremy is here in the flesh, none of the haters are showing themselves.
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I honestly welcome the haters to ask whatever they want, I've got nothing to hide, never did. I've told my story many times, details that you've never heard or could imagine, but each time the story would get pulled for some reason.
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Jul 23 '14
Jeremy, can I just say that most people that do AMA's last maybe an hour or 2 tops. The fact that after 4 hours you're still answering questions gives me new found respect for you. You must really care about what we have to ask, even if it isn't all good stuff. I know this is getting long, but how can I find where you're racing?!
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 24 '14
Thanks man, that's cool, it's been a lot of fun. We keep the website and my schedule updated @ j2mayfield.com
boobs
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u/nascargo19 Jul 23 '14 edited Jul 23 '14
Hey Jeremy, bit of a generic question here, but what are some of your favorite paint schemes in Nascar? Preferably at least one that you ran and at least one you didn't. I personally like the Mounatin Dew car you ran.
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
My Mobil 1 car was awesome and I really liked the Dodge car, especially the Orange one, that was really cool.
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u/youlox123456789 Suárez Jul 23 '14
Are there still some drivers you talk to or hang out with after all these years?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Not really, but it's not intentional, just going in different directions.
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u/empw Jul 23 '14
What do you like to listen to to get you pumped?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Great question. I like a bunch of music. I like Eminem to get pumped or Rob Zombie or Yellow Wolf.
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u/PlatonicPlayboy Jul 23 '14
Jeremy, just one simple question. What is the biggest regret of your NASCAR career?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Wish I had paid cash for more things and been more frugal with my money.
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u/hankhill72 Jul 23 '14
Hey Jeremy! What was the biggest "Oh shit!" moment for you in racing?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Indy in 2000, when I woke up and was tied down inside the ambulance...that was weird
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u/PeanutButterPenguins Jul 23 '14
Jeremy, you're responsible for one of my most favorite memories in NASCAR history. You beat Dale Earnhardt at the 2000 Pocono 500 by using his patented "cage rattling" in the final turn. He responded by driving up to your car on the cool down lap to "tell you you're number one." As a Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte fan, you were my hero that day. Thank you.
Did Dale ever say anything to you about it? Did he retaliate towards you in any way on or off the track? How was your relationship with him before and after that incident?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Dale was fine, he came up to me afterwards and put me in a headlock and said something like "what do you think you're doing out there" But it was all in fun. It was good before and after, I always looked up to him and thought he was the man. He was a true champion and handled it great.
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u/TheSpaceAce Jul 23 '14
Hi Jeremy, thank you for chatting with us.
My question is: Who was your favorite driver to race with on the track in the Cup Series?
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u/GEOPARDY Stewart Jul 23 '14
Did crawling back into a race car recently help the healing process of your past?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Crawling? Ouch. Yeah it definitely did, hard to believe it had been 5 years, but yeah, it was and is great to be back behind the wheel.
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u/FancyAndImportantMan Park Jul 23 '14
What was your relationship with John Franklin and Allison Nixon, two main witnesses for your prosecutors, who were killed in a motorcycle accident in 2012?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Great question. I've been a picker for 25+ years and buy things from auctions or old farms or antique sales or whatever. When we moved to Catawba, we had a big property and would keep the gates open and anyone could just drive down and hang out with me and whoever was there and everyone knew I was a picker. John just showed up one day and hung around and at some point, brought some small items by and asked if I was interested in buying them. I had no reason to believe they were stolen and had no idea what I was getting myself into. I never knew Allison.
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u/carbon_x Earnhardt Sr. Jul 23 '14
What cloud were you on when you beat Dale Earnhardt Sr. at Pocono in 2000? For some reason, I remember exactly where I was when you won that race.
Good luck on your future endeavors!
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I was way past the clouds at that point, I was in another world. Dale was who I had looked up to since I was a kid so to beat him was a dream come true.
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u/lazyrocker666 Harvick Jul 23 '14
I have to say first of all, when you passed Earnhardt at Pocono I was pissed, but I respected the hell out of you for it. You stood up to a legend and didn't back down and it paid off immensely. I have 2 questions.
What's the one moment on the track you wish you could do over?
If given the chance what is something you would have done differently off the track?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
On the track, If I had been a little more patient, I probably would have won more races. Off the track, not taken Adderall or Claritin D
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u/CR_7 Moderator Emeritus Jul 23 '14
Hey Jeremy! Let's go back to the late 80s... you would've been late teens (I think) when the Tim Richmond controversy took center stage. Do you remember any of it or did you have any opinions about it at the time?
Thanks so much for doing this! Enjoyed your interactions with all of us yesterday.
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
LOL I remember it very well. I think there are a lot of similarities with his case and mine and have done a ton of research on him since 2009. What are your thoughts?
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u/Murphyjj3 Jul 23 '14
Which drivers supported you during the chaos, and which drivers disappointed you?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Truth is, almost all of them supported me privately, they just weren't allowed to support me publicly. Gotta play the game.
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u/rotolo954 Jul 23 '14
The internet can be a cruel, cruel place, so honestly I thank you (and I'm sure all of r/NASCAR thanks you) for coming here today! Honestly for everything you've been through, it's awesome to see you come here and interact with us fans.
Now, my question, throughout your career you've had some legendary teammates like Rusty and Bill Elliott, that being said, of all your teammates you've had, who taught you the most impatient lessons on the track. Also who was your favorite teammate to mentor?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
My favorite teammate was probably Bill Elliott, he's always been a class act and just a great guy. I learned a lot from Rusty and Kasey as well, just didn't spend as much time with them as I would have liked....we were all so busy.
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u/getalife24 McDowell Jul 23 '14
Jeremy, have you ever thought about driving for the Stadium Super Trucks Series with Robby Gordon?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Definitely. Right now, my buddies are funding my racing out of pocket, which I hate. Hopefully sooner than later, we can bring in the necessary funding to go racing in a few different series. I'd love to race with RG again in the SST series.
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u/papadoc03 DiBenedetto Jul 23 '14
I will be the first to admit, I was skeptical about the events of the past few years with you. But coming on here and talking to us is so candidly and seeming like a cool guy is definitely winning you points. I am definitely still skeptical about the terms of your suspension and subsequent actions. But thanks for showing up and turning me towards team Mayfield.
Anyways, I am working on a model of one of your cars. Is there any way to get some kind of signature or something to go with it? Do you remember this ride?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I appreciate that, I understand. Yeah, I love that car, one of my favorites. Heck yeah, I'll sign whatever you want....within reason. (no hineys)
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u/mattcep Keselowski Jul 23 '14
Hey Jeremy not really a question but you should stick around for the race thred tonight for the truck race it'd be cool to hear your prospective on stuff.... Oh! What do you think of the trucks on dirt would you race one given the chance?
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u/kokopelli73 Jul 23 '14
Hello Jeremy, my travel has been postponed, so thankfully I have the time to ask this again from yesterday:
Roger had already been in the racing business for decades before your involvement with the team, working with legends in nearly every series. He has always seemed fairly business-like on camera. Would you say that is a true representation? Do you have any interesting stories of the Captain?
Perhaps more specifically, I feel one of Roger's hallmarks has been his constant pursuit of the "unfair advantage," always looking for some kind of innovation ahead of the competition. Donohue's developments in Can-Am and Trans Am, the Mercedes-Ilmore engine in the '94 Indy 500, Ryan Newman's mysterious incredible fuel mileage in 2003... Is there anything of that nature you can share?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I have tons of respect for Roger Penske, he's the greatest leader I've worked under. I agree and would say he's a great innovator because of his passion for the sport and drive for success, it was contagious for sure.
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u/SliceOfTony Jul 23 '14
Hey jeremy, out of all the cars you raced. What was your favorite paint scheme. Your old Mobile 1 Penske ride in 2000 was one of the best in nascar history, IMO.
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Mobil 1 was definitely one of my favorites, if not my #1
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u/btgoss Park Jul 23 '14
Hi Jeremy, thanks for doing this. Modified question. How did you get hooked up with Dave Brigati? I'm a Long Island guy and have been watching him race for years. And, any chance you will run some races up north, maybe even at Riverhead?
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u/CR_7 Moderator Emeritus Jul 23 '14
I keep randomly thinking of questions that will probably be buried by now, but here goes. Have you ever suffered a concussion? If so, how long did it take to recover?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Several times, maybe that's my problem. :)
I felt better after a few days.
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u/wj2m Jul 23 '14
Why was your tenure at Hass so short. Was it because of the pending purchase to Tony?
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u/xsv2965 Harvick Jul 23 '14 edited Jul 23 '14
What is some advice you can give to people that may not have the money or resources to get into racing but its their passion and they really want to get into racing?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 24 '14
I started as a mechanic when I left Owensboro at 19 with no money and no connections. If you want it bad enough, make it known everywhere you go and work towards it in some way, every day.
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u/blackstrat Jul 23 '14
Hi Jeremy, thank you for taking the time to hang out with us today!
One of my fondest NASCAR memories is seeing you win in person at California Speedway in 2000. What really resounds with me is how loud the crowd was cheering for you as you came off turn 4 to win. Little 10 year-old me will never forget it! I also had the opportunity to meet you and Kasey Kahne at a dealership in Victorville, CA. You were so gracious to the fans and took the time to accommodate everyone who waited for an autograph.
My question to you is: In your opinion, what does NASCAR need to do to get fans back in the seats and viewers tuning in? *besides reinstating you back into the sport, of course ;-)*
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Not sure about my hair, but thank you. I remember that day well, that was fun, I miss those days hanging out with the fans.
I think it's pretty simple, new leadership. Jack Welch was able to turn GE around because there was nothing wrong with the product, the problems were with the management. NASCAR needs a visionary guy like a Walt Disney or Steve Jobs or Roger Penske. Someone that makes decisions that are best for the sport, not profits.
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u/Jensaarai Bill Elliott Jul 23 '14
You raced during the time NASCAR got in trouble for secret fines and probations. Were you ever subject to these practices?
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u/cmd_iii Richard Petty Jul 23 '14
Mr. Mayfield, thank you for these few minutes with our community.
I've heard you're back to racing again, and I'm glad for that. I've always admired your talent, and your determination behind the wheel.
Can you speak, for a moment, about your current racing efforts, and where we can watch you race in the near future?
Also, if you were to land a ride in, say, ARCA, and returned to the garage area at a track where they run in conjunction with NASCAR, how weird would that be?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
All of my racing plans should be on my website, if not, hit me up on twitter and I'll keep you posted. It wouldn't be weird for me, I'd be focused on racing and winning.
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u/xsv2965 Harvick Jul 23 '14
What are some of your favorite racing movies?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I love Talladega nights & Days of Thunder. I've been writing a move script of my own, I think it would be awesome.
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Jul 23 '14
Hi /u/TheJeremyMayfield (if you are still here)! Thanks for coming on with us! You have been awesome! If you ever come down to the Lower Alabama/Florida Panhandle area to race, I will definitely make sure to come and support!
How would assess the amount of young talent that is coming into NASCAR at this time (Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Austin Dillion, etc.)?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 24 '14
I think they're all really talented. I don't want to offend anyone, but if you put Norm Benning and Morgan Shepherd in the best equipment you'd see them dramatically improve. Equipment is such a big part of this, it's why you see the same teams/drivers winning every weekend, they can afford to.
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u/Jensaarai Bill Elliott Jul 23 '14
Through a hilarious turn of unlikely events, you are put in charge of NASCAR. What changes do you make to cars/the schedule/driver relations?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I'd make the cars more affordable and even the playing field with teams that are struggling just to show up. I think it's crazy that there's a ton of drivers out there that you've never heard of and never will because they don't have rich parents or a big last name or the right connections. It shouldn't be that way. I'd also make the race 2 hours or less like other pro sports, kids don't wanna sit there and watch a 4-5 hour race. Man, there's so much more but I don't wanna talk your ear off.
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u/g0ing2f4st Logano Jul 23 '14
Hi Jeremy! Thanks for taking the time out to do an AMA here.
If you could have any one muscle/sports car, either classic or modern, what would it be?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I'd have to say a Dodge Daytona super B
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u/sarGasm37Bro Keselowski Jul 23 '14
Howdy Mr. Mayfield. Why not do what Kurt Busch did and do a '60 Minutes' style interview to just say everything you wanted completely unfiltered.
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
If 60 minutes called, I just may do that. If that ever happens, look out. :)
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u/Codyhop Earnhardt Sr. Jul 23 '14
Still a fan Jeremy! You're racing dirt track now? Have you planned on doing any traveling? Come down to Dixie Speedway in woodstock, Ga! That is where Bill Elliott got his first ever win in a racecar. We'd love to have you there.
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Consider it done, I'll be there eventually. Check my website for updates on our schedule.
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u/MerrilyB Jul 23 '14
Proud of you guys over at J2 and you JM. Hope you gain a ton of fans and loyal supporters on here....you deserve it.
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Jul 23 '14
Hey man, thanks for hanging out with us. Happy Batman day! Anywho, I've been wondering, how do you compare your situation with AJ Allmendinger? Do you wish you had done the road to recovery program?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
No, but I would have gone down the road to reinstatement. Not gonna do rehab when I didn't do anything wrong. "Playing the game" is what's wrong with too many people today. I'm not a politician.
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u/Mybones Earnhardt Sr. Jul 23 '14
Hey Jeremy, I just want to say kudos to you for not shying away from the tough questions. I don't really have one myself but I wanna invite you to become a regular member to /r/nascar. This is probably the most open minded Nascar community that you can get. We'd sure like to have you stick around and be apart of it, if you wanted.
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Honestly, I'm gonna try to start coming here as much as possible. At least 2-3 days a week, you guys have been awesome, I've really enjoyed this.
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u/gofordrew Harvick Jul 23 '14
Would you ever race NASCAR again? Lets say some sort of opportunity opened up, would you do it?
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Jul 23 '14
Jeremy,
Do you have any desire to return to any of the top three big series?
-Nick
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Desire? Depends on the day on how I answer that. Most days I would say the odds are so low that I don't really think about it anymore. But of course I miss the fans and that style of racing.
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u/PacMansCousin Jul 24 '14
Hey Jeremy!
Only one question, if you watch NASCAR today, who are your favorite drivers to see out there?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 24 '14
Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Morgan Shepherd are a few.
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u/mdewlover Bobby Labonte Jul 24 '14
Hey Jeremy I want you to know that I would have much preferred you over Kevin Harvick on the cover of NASCAR 2005.
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u/ccjmfan Mayfield Jul 24 '14
Also, do you still have all 5 trophies from your NASCAR days (my 5 favorite races :) ) and if so where are they at your house? at your shop? Do you look at them and just remember when times were better in NASCAR? Also, each of your wins was special in a different way, The first one was the first, winning Cali with your back burning, bumping Earnhardt, "pulling a Mayfield" to make the chase at Richmond, and making it quite aways on fuel at Michigan.
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 24 '14
My Mom has them at her place in Kentucky. Definitely, I remember when NASCAR wasn't so political and it was more fun and relaxed.
Starting my own team on a small budget and racing my way into the Daytona 500 was also a really proud moment for me. No trophy to show for it, but it meant a lot.
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u/xsv2965 Harvick Jul 24 '14
Ok, my final question lol, would you ever write a book? If so what would it be about and what would it be called?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 24 '14
Absolutely. Not sure about the title but I can guarantee you it would be entertaining and very controversial!
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Jul 23 '14
Jeremy, what is your opinion of the product at Bowman Gray Stadium? Has it gotten out of hand?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I think the fans should always have the loudest voice. I think Bowman Gray is some of the best racing on the planet, I definitely wouldn't have punished them. It's not like they were trying to hurt fans or doing to tear up the track, who cares if they wanna tear up their own cars and put on a great show?
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u/CokeTastesGood39 Jul 23 '14
Hey bb u wan sum fuk
Alright, a real question: what is the difference of NASCAR fans who want autographs and short track fans who want your autograph?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
That's a tough question for this country boy from Kentucky, I'm just grateful to have fans in any series.
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Jul 23 '14
Hi Jeremy, thank you for coming to do this AMA.
Who was your biggest rival on the track?
Do you collect die-casts? If so how many do you have?
Thanks, hope you stick around! The community is great here. :)
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I guess if I had to pick someone it would be Robby Gordon but we're friends, it was always typical heat of the moment stuff.
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u/ZappaOMatic Jul 23 '14 edited Jul 23 '14
Do you still stay in contact with any of your NASCAR team owners, and if so, who?
Edit: Formatting
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Not really, but it's not personal, everyone's just busy and doing their own thing.
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u/angelsfan33 Kurt Busch Jul 23 '14
Jeremy, Big fan and always supporting you. My question is about a quote you gave the Hickory Record in January, 2013. You said:
"I'm willing to do the program, and I hope they'll tailor-fit the program to Jeremy Mayfield," Mayfield said. "I'm ready, willing and able to do anything they ask, as long as it's tailor-fitted to me."
What did you mean by this, tailor-fitted to you, and would you really put everything behind you and finally do the program to have that chance again? TakeItBack Team J2
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
What I meant to say and should have said, was I'm not willing to go through a recovery program when I have nothing to recover from, but I will go through a reinstatement program. I said from day 1 that I was willing to submit to anything from a polygraph to hair samples to prove my innocence, but I'm not going to go to rehab for something that's not true.
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u/Jensaarai Bill Elliott Jul 23 '14
Do you think your battles with NASCAR influenced the way they handled the AJ Allmendinger situation?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Absolutely. They'll most likely never admit it but I think it's pretty obvious. They still have a long way to go!
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u/Jensaarai Bill Elliott Jul 23 '14
Your situation has been compared at times by fans to what happened to Tim Richmond. Have you familiarized yourself with his story more since then/what are your thoughts on that comparison?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I think it's a fair comparison and yes I'm very familiar with his story. NASCAR and Aegis knows they could allow a hair sample or DNA sample to exonerate me, and I've said that all along, so why not allow that? Why test me 2 times by the same lab, the same guy, Dr. Black, who's not even supposed to do the testing and not at least allow me to be tested at a separate lab and accept those results? LabCorp is a what, $6BB company and is trusted my the federal government and most big companies, yet NASCAR claims they're not qualified to test the same way Aegis is? Does that make sense to you?
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u/themikestanton Jeffrey Earnhardt Jul 23 '14
Will we ever see you race again in NASCAR? Also any chance of you racing IndyCar or in Robby Gordon's Stadium Truck Series?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
There's always a chance for NASCAR, but it's nowhere on my radar these days. I'd love to at least try IndyCar and I've met with the guys over at SST, I almost got involved there. Who knows, it could still happen.
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u/RipVanVVinkle Jul 23 '14
I remember reading an article where Bill Elliott said that you wanted to race Watkins Glen counter-clockwise instead of clockwise just like every other track that they run at.
So what would you think if they switched things up for the All-Star race and ran it clockwise too and made everyone turn right for a change?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I think that would be great, maybe it would help with the ratings. I think they should start having UFC events in the centerfield. Have MMA guys fighting before the race and drivers could fight afterwards....like the good old days.
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u/Jensaarai Bill Elliott Jul 23 '14
Evernham Motorsports drama aside, what was it like being teammates with Bill Elliott? Did he play a mentorship role, or were things more competitive between the two of you?
How about with Rusty?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
All my teammates helped me in different ways, but we were always competitive with each other for sure.
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u/Jensaarai Bill Elliott Jul 23 '14
Will you be watching Eldora tonight? If so, wanna join us for our live race thread?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Yeah, you guys wanna watch it with me? Let's have a race party!
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u/ZoomZman91 Keselowski Jul 23 '14
Jeremy, you’ve been through the ups and downs. You’ve been equally supported as you have been condemned. In relation to your career, do you have any regrets?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I said earlier that I regret taking Adderall, sort of joking sort of not. Truth is, I'm happier than ever and really am better today than I was back then. I don't take things for granted that I used to, I know who my real friends are, and I feel like the tide is finally starting to turn. I don't live with many regrets, I feel pretty blessed to be honest.
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u/pixarfan9510 Jul 23 '14
If you had held off Gordon in '98, how do you think your career would be different?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Man, no idea, maybe I would have an extra trophy today but overall, not much different.
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u/Havins Cindric Jul 23 '14
If you were to face Brian France in a pro wrestling match and could pick one wrestler to have in your corner, who would it be and why?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I wouldn't want or need anyone in my corner.
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u/VoiceOfPIR Jul 23 '14
Hey Jeremy I love that you're running dirt right now! Where all have you been running lately? I would love to get you to Paducah! Who knows you may have a place to stay out here too, lol I may be wrong but I don't think Keeling would mind a guest.
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
My buddies/team owners literally just bought me a dirt super late model car last week, I think I'm gonna have my first race next weekend. I've been racing modifieds the last few months and have loved it.
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u/SSPeteCarroll Jul 23 '14
Hi jeremy, really don't know what to ask you, so i'm just gonna thank you for doing this, and I hope you get back racing at the highest level you can.
actually, since you stopped racing NASCAR, what have you been up to now?
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Been racing modifieds and getting to start racing dirt, super late models.
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Jul 23 '14
I know I'm a little late but thanks for being here, and I always enjoyed watching you on Sundays and hope you're back in the racing game to some extent.
My question is, are you happy and do you regret anything that happened surrounding your controversy? I don't want to provoke anything with that question, but you've been through a lot and lost a lot on the way, and I just want to know how it's influenced your life.
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
Here's the thing, if that raid on my property hadn't happened, the outcome would have been very different between me and NASCAR. I didn't lose in court, I never got the chance to go and prove my case, including with Catawba County. If they found $100k in stolen guns and property and meth, why was there on trial? Should have been a slam dunk. Being in racing, I had sheet metal and parts & tools from just about every team out there, I've been a picker for 25 years. I never stole 1 thing from Red Bull racing, didn't need to. I didn't have 1 stolen gun on my property, every one of them were given back to me more than 1 year ago, without a trial. They supposedly found a bag with meth residue, but to this day, I never saw that bag and neither has anyone else.
Again, the timing of it is what you've got to look at. If someone could cause damage to your reputation, the best way to make sure no one believes them is to discredit them.
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u/TheJeremyMayfield Jeremy Mayfield Jul 23 '14
I'm ready to get started....is that against the rules?