Jeremy Mayfield, Bob Griese Comments Overshadow NASCAR Race

Jeremy Mayfield is not in the NASCAR chase, while Juan Pablo Montoya is. Today, Jeremy Mayfield and Juan Pablo Montoya are in the news for things other than racing, for far different reasons. Jeremy Mayfield is battling NASCAR in the PR circuit, while Juan Pablo Montoya tries to brush aside a racial slur made on national TV. But while Jeremy Mayfield goes on the offensive, and Juan Pablo Montoya tries to ignore Bob Griese, NASCAR still has a title chase to continue.

Jeremy Mayfield was the center of a major interview on ESPN's Outside the Lines today, as Mayfield had his first one-on-one interview about his drug test suspension. Mayfield tested positive for methamphetomines in May, and has been suspended from the track ever since. Since then, Jeremy Mayfield has been firing lobs at NASCAR, and/or digging himself even deeper.

Jeremy Mayfield denied he ever used meth on Outside the Lines, and repeated his conspiracy theory that NASCAR is out to get him. Claiming he was worth more to NASCAR as "a failed drug test" than a driver, Mayfield said he was used as an example by racing to put "the fear of God" in everyone.

Mayfield's accusations, conspiracy charges and original drug test failure have made him a pariah in NASCAR, after being a respectable driver for several years. For the last several months, Mayfield has been a controversial thorn in NASCAR's side, as they try to get everyone focused on actual racing and the Chase for the Cup.

One of those drivers in the Chase is Juan Pablo Montoya, who was a top contender until a bad finish last weekend. As Montoya tries to climb back up in the standings today at Martinsville, he has to listen to questions about Bob Griese making a racial remark about him yesterday.

During coverage of the Ohio State-Minnesota football game yesterday, ABC briefly promoted today's NASCAR race. When lead announcer Chris Spielman asked where Montoya was, after he fell out of the top 5 in the standards last week, Griese "joked" that Montoya was "out having taco."

The Bob Griese Juan Pablo Montoya comments didn't take long to spread, and get Griese in trouble. Griese has already apologized several times for the comments, but they will probably be mentioned a few times in today's Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville.

Montoya already has to focus on getting back into Chase contention, while NASCAR wants the racing to overshadow the scandals today. But thanks to Jeremy Mayfield and Bob Griese, NASCAR may find that hard - especially since Jimmie Johnson is trying to take away all the suspense from the Chase for the Cup yet again.

Sources

Stock Car Spin- "Mayfield's OTL Interview: What We Learned"

Fanhouse- "Jeremy Mayfield: 'I Was Worth More...As A Failed Drug Test"

Jacksonville Celebrity Headlines Examiner- "Bob Griese apologizes for his 'taco' comment involving Juan Pablo Montoya"