Full Throttle

If NASCAR fans, and more importantly the litigants in the Mayfield vs NASCAR case were expecting Thursday’s hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen would move the case forward they were operating under delusions of grandeur.

A host of issues was before the court but a single issue held up the entire process, that being one of jurisdiction, centering on whether Judge Mullen should hear the case or whether it should be kicked up the federal court system.

Apparently the issue is of utmost importance as the hearing lasted of all 15 minutes before calling it a day.

Mullen said he expects NASCAR Chairman Brian France will have to testify before him over whether his residence for jurisdictional purposes is North Carolina or Florida. If Mullen determines that France is a resident of North Carolina, he could rule that North Carolina Superior Court has jurisdiction and not federal court.

“Until that’s resolved, anything the court does is subject to review later if the court doesn’t have jurisdiction,” Mullen said during the hearing.

Mayfield attorney Daniel Marino declined to comment on the issues afterward, and Mayfield wouldn’t talk about the specifics of the case.

Well, that’s a startling change, Mayfield has done more talking and media appearances than Paris Hilton since May and now he’s been muzzled.

No hearing date was set to settle the issue.