Associated Press
SONOMA, Calif. ó An expert witness for suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield said he tried to fix mistakes in an affidavit about his educational background, but the errors were still submitted into court.
Harvey MacFenerstein said he pointed out the errors to John Buric, an attorney for Mayfield, and was assured the corrections would be made before the affidavit was submitted May 29. The inaccuracies were challenged Tuesday in federal court by NASCAR, who accused MacFenerstein of lying about his credentials in six sworn statements.
MacFenerstein, president of Analytical Toxicology Corp., a drug-testing laboratory in San Antonio, Texas, said he read about NASCAR’s motion on the Internet and called Buric to find out what had happened with his affidavit.
“I said to him, ‘What’s going on?’ ” MacFenerstein said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “He said not to worry and ‘Just don’t say anything.’ Well, now I am saying something because this has caused embarrassment to me, this has hurt my business. I am getting threats through e-mail. It’s been a nightmare.”LONG SUSPENSION
Driver Carl Long’s suspension has been reduced to eight races from a record 12, but his record $200,000 fine remains.
National Stock Car Racing commissioner Charles Strang heard Long’s final appeal Monday. He announced the reduced suspension Wednesday.
Long, a part-time driver in the Sprint Cup series, was penalized for having an oversized engine at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May. He got some relief, but the fine could keep him from racing again.
“I suppose it’s good news,” Long told The Associated Press on Thursday. “Eight is better than 12. But they ain’t gonna budge on the fine, and they know I can’t pay it. They intentionally put it out of my reach.”
More than $16,000 has been raised for Long’s cause, with donations coming through his Web site and from a couple “pass the hat” events at racetracks.
“If I can keep stuff like that going, then maybe $200,000 is in sight,” Long said. “The next thing to do is to stand outside the racetrack with my helmet and beg for change. I’m not above doing it, either.”