"WHEELS" NOTEBOOK

Mayfield vs. NASCAR could continue into 2011: Jeremy Mayfield's quest to make NASCAR pay for what he says was a drug test that was a false positive for methamphetamines likely will stretch well into 2011. Mayfield, whose claims against NASCAR were dismissed by a U.S. District Court judge in May, must first defend himself against a countersuit by NASCAR before appealing the decision to throw out his claims. NASCAR claims that Mayfield breached his contract with NASCAR for competing while in violation of its substance abuse policy.
According to a revised schedule filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Charlotte, motions for summary judgment must be filed by Feb. 4, 2011. Those would have to be ruled on before any trial begins, meaning that it likely will be next spring, at the earliest, before that portion of the case could go to trial. Once a decision on NASCAR's counterclaim is made by either the judge or a jury, the appeals process likely would proceed throughout 2011. Mayfield will meet with NASCAR on Sept. 8 in mediation to try to settle NASCAR's breach-of-contract claim against him. Whether Mayfield could pay any claims is questionable. He has judgments of $874,000 against him and Mayfield Motorsports for unpaid bills and taxes.
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Furniture Row Racing re-signs Regan Smith: Furniture Row Racing announced that Regan Smith has signed a contract extension through the 2012 season to drive the team's #78 Chevy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Smith, the 2008 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year, is currently in his second season driving for the Colorado-based Furniture Row Racing team. Last year he competed on a part-time basis, entering 20 races. The 26-year-old native of central New York is running a full schedule this season and will do the same in 2011 and 2012. "Regan is a young, talented driver with an outstanding future," said Joe Garone, Furniture Row Racing general manager. "He has done a great job as our athlete and also as a spokesperson for our organization. The contract extension does indeed express a serious commitment by both the race team and driver." Garone added, "We have a team of proven employees, state-of-the-art equipment and dedicated partners. We are producing increasingly positive performances and strongly feel that we're on the right path to become a contending team."
"I am both happy and humbled about the contract extension," said Smith. "Furniture Row Racing is a team on the move. I feel we've made some big gains this season and we are all encouraged about the future. I really admire the behind-the-scenes work ethic and commitment of each and every member of this team. They want to win as bad as I do and I am proud to be their driver."Furniture Row Racing
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LaJoie reinstated by NASCAR: NASCAR has reinstated crew member Randy LaJoie upon his successful completion of a counseling program following his June 22 suspension for violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy.NASCAR
WHEELS -NOTE/ Someone should remind Mayfield how easy it could have been !
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Sadler unsure of 2010 plans: #19-Elliott Sadler says he doesn't know what he will be doing next year in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, but for now he's having a blast driving for Kevin Harvick Inc. in that organization's Nationwide and Camping World truck series entries. Sadler is currently searching for a ride for the 2011 season. He said last month that he has had no talks with RPM about returning to the team next year. "I wish I had an answer," Sadler said when asked about his plans following Friday night's Nationwide event at Bristol Motor Speedway. "I'm not trying to dodge the question, I really don't. A couple of weeks ago I really thought I had something lined up and it kind of slipped away. I was thinking, 'I've got to regroup and try something else.' But I can't sit here right now and say, 'I'm doing this, this or this.' What I want to do is be competitive and run up front. I don't care what the vehicle looks like that I run in." Sadler said he hopes to drive for KHI in 2011 as well, but isn't sure to what extent. "I've had a ball racing the trucks and I've had a ball racing the Nationwide car," he said. "The coolest thing about racing for Kevin is they believe in me 100 percent. They believe in what I'm telling them, they believe when I get in the car or truck that they have a legitimate shot to run up front, lead laps and win races. To me, that's a really good feeling. Where I'll be next year? I have no idea. I've talked to Kevin about running some truck series stuff for him next year & 7-10 races, something like that. Really, other than that, I don't know where I'm going to be." His efforts in the Nationwide and truck series, Sadler said, have generated interest, if not job offers. With the 2010 season beginning to wind down, Sadler knows time is growing short to land a ride for the upcoming year. "I have gotten more phone calls in the last month and a half than I have in two and a half years," he said. "Yes, people are taking notice. Phones calls not saying, 'Hey, we're going to give you a job,' but phone calls going, 'Man, we're proud of you, we knew you could do it. Congratulations man, keep at it.