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CUP: Gunselman Says Mayfield Most Likely Won’t Race His Car At Daytona
Written by: Bob Pockrass
SceneDaily.com   http://www.scenedaily.com
07/02/2009
Daytona Beach, FL
 
Jeremy Mayfield most likely will not drive for Gunselman Motorsports in the Coke Zero 400 this weekend at Daytona International Speedway, team owner Larry Gunselman said Thursday morning.
Team owner Larry Gunselman said he is 99 percent sure that his No. 64 Toyota will be driven by Mike Wallace this weekend at Daytona. (GunselmanMotorsports.com Photo) ยป More Photos

Gunselman said he is 99 percent sure that his No. 64 Toyota will be driven by Mike Wallace and not Mayfield, who was suspended May 9 after a May 1 test that NASCAR says showed a positive result for methamphetamines. Mayfield, who claims the test produced a false positive reading from the prescription drug Adderall and over-the-counter Claritin-D, had his indefinite suspension lifted by U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen on Wednesday, making him eligible to drive this weekend. Practice starts this afternoon.

With sponsorship from Fred’s Hometown Discount Store this weekend, Gunselman said that he likely would not put Mayfield in the car.

“[Fred’s] helped us a little bit at Daytona in the spring,” Gunselman said in the Sprint Cup garage. “I did have that conversation [about Mayfield with Fred’s], and they probably would choose not to at this time. … They indicated that if we did make that decision, they probably couldn’t be involved, and I’m completely understanding of that.”

Gunselman’s shop is part of the old Stavola Bros. complex, where Mayfield Motorsports Inc. also is located. Gunselman has some employees who have worked for Mayfield, but he has no affiliation with Mayfield.

“Being a small startup team that struggled, I have to consider every potential scenario for our race team,” Gunselman said. “Obviously, it’s a very sensitive situation right now. I’m not going to do anything to damage my relationship with NASCAR.

“But on the other hand, if [Mayfield’s driving] is something that we can put everything else aside and move forward for the health of the sport and everybody involved, I’d definitely be interested in talking to somebody about it.”

With Wallace in the car, Gunselman does have a driver who is considered an excellent restrictor-plate racer.

Gunselman Motorsports has attempted to qualify for 11 races this year and has competed in three. Gunselman said he did not have a sponsor for next week’s race at Chicagoland and that he is hiring a marketing manager
to seek sponsorship.

Whether Mayfield drives for him would likely depend on if Mayfield brings sponsorship.

“This is a small, one-race deal with Fred’s,” Gunselman said. “Some people with Fred’s are actually involved in my race team.

“Everybody’s feelings are kind of sensitive right at the moment, and I’d have to be very aware of everything involved. It’s just a sensitive situation right now. I did speak with NASCAR. They said their position is Jeremy is an approved driver, and it was kind of left at that.”

Gunselman said he doesn’t know Mayfield all that well.

“I really don’t have a relationship with Jeremy,” Gunselman said. “I don’t know Jeremy very well. The few times I talked to him he was very nice and very cordial. I don’t have any feelings one way or the other. I’ve never had any friction with Jeremy. … I don’t have a dog in that fight [of Jeremy’s].

“I just want my race team to be successful.”

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