DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – 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 Saturday night's race at Daytona International Speedway is as a relief driver, a change NASCAR must approve.

With that looking like a long shot and Mayfield yet to arrive at Daytona, NASCAR questioned the need for the injunction.

"Jeremy and his legal team asked for a temporary injunction for emergency relief because it was necessary apparently to come compete here in Daytona," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "Apparently, he's not here and it appears as if he's not going to compete this weekend, which would raise some questions on how much of an emergency it really was."

As the cars fired their engines Thursday 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's only other option to drive was finding a team owner willing to give him a ride. Ten teams are trying to qualify for eight open spots in Saturday night's race, but only a handful would consider making a driver change to accommodate Mayfield.

Of them, Tommy Baldwin, Larry Gunselman, Joe Nemechek and Phil Parsons said they weren't interested.

"Whether he's right, wrong or different right now, he's marked," said Tommy Baldwin, an interim crew chief for Mayfield in 2007. "And that's going to hurt him probably for the rest of his career."

There was mixed reaction throughout the garage whether Mayfield will be able to move past the suspension and the ongoing lawsuits. Many drivers said they believed Mayfield will blend right in when he does return, but Jeff Burton doesn't think it will be so easy.

"He didn't have a job prior to this," Burton said. "I don't think [team owners] Rick Hendrick or Richard Childress were going to call him, anyway. I'm not being ugly; it's just the truth. Without a doubt, there's now an asterisk next to his name, and that's going to make it a whole lot harder."

No restrictor-plate worries for Edwards: The last time Carl Edwards was at a restrictor-plate track, his car was flipping down the front stretch on the final lap in the Aaron's 499 at Talladega.

He said he wasn't thinking about that as he prepared for Saturday's race at Daytona International Speedway.

"The first time I drove a racecar it kind of scared the hell out of me," said Edwards, who finished 24th at Talladega. "Now it's the competition. The fear is losing. That's the only real fear out there. There's no issue of fear of crashing."

Earnhardt, Petty HOF finalists: Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty were among 25 people nominated for the first NASCAR Hall of Fame. Five of the 25 will be selected in October, with the induction ceremony taking place next May at the new facility in Charlotte, N.C. The five Hall members will be chosen by a 48-voter panel.

Ragan tops speed charts: David Ragan topped two of the four speed charts – posting the fastest lap in the first Sprint Cup practice and the second Nationwide practice.

David Reutimann was the fastest car in the second Sprint Cup practice, which was delayed by rain. That practice was slowed by a wreck involving Greg Biffle and Sam Hornish Jr.

The Associated Press, Special Contributor Anthony Andro

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Buck Baker

Red Byron

Richard Childress

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Richie Evans

Tim Flock

Bill France Jr.

William H.G. France

Rick Hendrick

Ned Jarrett

Junior Johnson

Bud Moore

Raymond Parks

Benny Parsons

David Pearson

Lee Petty

Richard Petty

Fireball Roberts

Herb Thomas

Curtis Turner

Darrell Waltrip

Joe Weatherly

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