Mayfield misses deadline to race at Daytona

Jeremy Mayfield missed the deadline to enter this weekend's race after successfully fighting NASCAR to get back behind the wheel following a failed random drug test.

His only hope for participating in tomorrow night's race at Daytona International Speedway is as a relief driver, a change NASCAR must approve.

"That's something that's at the discretion of the series director," said John Darby, director of the Sprint Cup Series.

As the cars fired their engines yesterday afternoon for the first practice session of the weekend, the Mayfield watch ended roughly 24 hours after a federal judge lifted the indefinite suspension and cleared him to race at Daytona.

Mayfield's absence calmed at least one driver, who was admittedly uncomfortable driving against Mayfield now that NASCAR said he tested positive for methamphetamines in a urine sample collected May 1.

"A federal judge releasing someone to drive without clarifying everything, that's not cool," said Ryan Newman, one of the most vocal drivers about drug testing since Mayfield's suspension. "People make mistakes. I hope the judge didn't make one."

Mayfield sued NASCAR over the suspension, which covered his roles as owner and driver of the No.41 Mayfield Motorsports Toyota. On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen issued a temporary injunction based on the argument that NASCAR's testing system is flawed.

Although Mayfield said after the ruling he intended to travel to Daytona, he wasn't sure he'd be able to compete because of the short turnaround.

First Hall of Fame class has 25 nominees

Stock car racing giants ranging from Bill France Sr. and Junior Johnson to Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt are among the 25 nominees for NASCAR's first Hall of Fame class.

The announcement comes 10 months before the Hall of Fame's scheduled opening in downtown Charlotte. An inaugural class of five will be chosen from the group that includes the bootleggers who helped create the sport to the drivers, owners and officials who made it popular.

NASCAR patriarch France and his son, Bill France Jr., were among the candidates selected by a 21-member panel. The drivers include Petty, Earnhardt, Johnson, David Pearson, Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarbrough and Glenn "Fireball" Roberts.

Car owners are represented, too, including Bud Moore, Raymond Parks, Rick Hendrick, Richard Childress and Glen Wood.

A panel of people in the sport and a fan vote will decide the first class, which will be announced in October. Induction will take place in conjunction with the Hall's opening in May.

"That first class, just like the first baseball class that has the likes of Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, is going to be extremely special," Hall of Fame director Winston Kelley said.

Biffle, Hornish involved in practice wreck

Greg Biffle and Sam Hornish Jr. wrecked during practice for tomorrow night's NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway. Neither driver was injured.

Biffle and Hornish got together during the second of two Sprint Cup practices. Both cars hit the wall and sustained right-side damage. Biffle's crew unloaded a backup car and started getting it ready for today's qualifying session. It was unclear whether Hornish's team would do the same.