Associated Press
The racing notebook …
CATAWBA ó Former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield, barred from the association since 2009 for a failed drug test, was arrested at his western North Carolina home and charged with possession of methamphetamine, and police said Wednesday he may face more charges.
Mayfield was arrested Tuesday night and charged possessing 1.5 grams of meth, according to records from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. Mayfield, 42, posted $3,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in district court on Wednesday. A call to the clerk’s office in Newton was not immediately returned Wednesday afternoon.
Detectives from neighboring Lincoln County said roughly $100,000 worth of items that belonged to businesses in that county were also found at Mayfield’s home, and they plan to charge him with possession of stolen goods.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office says Mayfield had heavy equipment parts, welders and welding accessories, truck parts, an engraving machine and other items that they say were reported stolen from two businesses in late 2010 and early 2011.
HENDRICK PAIN
CHARLOTTE ó NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick has been hospitalized to treat injuries he suffered when his private plane ran off the runway during a landing.
Hendrick Motorsports said Wednesday an evaluation in Charlotte showed Hendrick had four broken ribs and a broken shoulder. He was admitted Tuesday to a local hospital to better manage his pain, and is expected to be released by the end of the week.
Hendrick, his wife and two pilots were on the Gulfstream G150 that had brake issues upon landing Monday night at Key West International Airport. The plane is co-owned by Jimmie Johnson and normally shuttles the five-time defending NASCAR champion and his family to and from races.
Linda Hendrick sustained minor cuts and bruises. The two pilots were not injured.
The plane apparently skidded off the 4,800-foot runway and came to a stop along a 600-foot unpaved safety area that had been added in May.
WHELDON AUCTION
CHARLOTTE ó It started with a small gesture by Graham Rahal, who wanted to raise money for Dan Wheldon’s family by auctioning off his helmet from the IndyCar season finale.
He announced his intentions on Twitter and the response from the motorsports community was immediate and overwhelming. It didn’t take Rahal long to realize he alone couldn’t handle the outpouring of support for Wheldon, the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner killed in the Oct. 16 race at Las Vegas.
More than $200,000 had been raised by Wednesday, the ninth day of the auction, with many big ticket items yet to be posted. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to a trust fund established by IndyCar for Wheldon’s wife and two young sons.