France residency at center of Mayfield case

Former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield was back in federal court Thursday concerning a lawsuit he filed against the racing organization and CEO Brian France after Mayfield was banned for allegedly failing several drug tests. The evidentiary hearing will be used to determine if there is enough evidence to move forward with a case, but court officials must first determine where that case would be heard. If the judge decided that NASCAR president Brian France's primary residence is North Carolina, the case would be likely held in state court  that's what Mayfield's legal team wants to see happen. But if it's Florida, as NASCAR's attorneys contend, the case will likely continue in federal court. France testified that he owns multiple homes and condos in Daytona Beach, Charlotte and California, and at least eight cars in three states. Mayfield's attorney, Mark Geragos, says France claims Florida for income tax purposes but he claimed North Carolina residency during his divorce and custody agreement. "It's obvious that he resides here in North Carolina and it's obvious to me, at least, or anybody else that's ever paid taxes, that the reason he's claiming Florida is it's a tax dodge so that he doesn't have to pay North Carolina taxes," Geragos said. France's ex-wife, Megan, said France moved her and their children to Charlotte after they married. They've since divorced but he keeps a North Carolina home to make visitation easier. France's 2009 marriage license to his new wife was filed in North Carolina. NASCAR officials say all of this is just a distraction from the real issue "Now let's remember what this case is about. This case is about failed drug tests by Jeremy Mayfield, who has tested positive on more than one occasion for methamphetamine," company spokesman Ramsey Poston said. A decision on Thursday's hearing is several weeks away. Attorneys have two weeks to file their arguments with the federal judge and then the judge will have to make a decision.(News14.com)