Mayfield set to hire high-profile lawyer

Suspended NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield is turning to high-profile attorney Mark Geragos to help fight his drug suspension.

Geragos confirmed Friday he's finalizing a deal to represent Mayfield out of his Washington, D.C.-based firm Luque Geragos and Marino.

Geragos declined to discuss specific issues until he could review the case.

Mayfield has been suspended since failing a May 1 random drug test. NASCAR says he tested positive for methamphetamines, and the driver has denied using the illegal drug. He sued to have his suspension lifted, and NASCAR countersued.

He won an injunction July 1 to lift his suspension but did not attempt to make any of the three races before the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the suspension July 24. A hearing on the injunction appeal tentatively is scheduled for the first week of December.

The Los Angeles-based Geragos has represented many celebrities, including singer Michael Jackson, actress Winona Ryder and singer Chris Brown. He also represented convicted killer Scott Peterson.

• NASCAR-LOGANO -- Joey Logano said he isn't scared to get back in his race car after his harrowing accident last week at Dover.

Logano rolled his Toyota seven times Sunday after Tony Stewart hit him from behind. It was the most spectacular accident the 19-year-old rookie has been in, and he said he still was shaking 15 minutes after the wreck.

"The first time is going to shake you up more than anything," Logano said Friday. "You go through a ride like that, and tell me you aren't shaking when you get out of there."

Logano said he is confident he will have no pause this weekend at Kansas Speedway.

• NHRA -- Larry Dixon powered his Top Fuel dragster to a 3.810-second run at 318.99 mph and earned six bonus points for leading the two qualifying sessions in the O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals in Millington, Tenn.

In Funny Car, Robert Hight had the lead with a 4.074-second pass at 310.70 and earned six bonus points for leading the second qualifying session.

Mike Edwards raced to the lead in Pro Stock with a 6.552 at 210.18 mph. Edwards was quickest in both sessions, netting him six bonus points.

Andrew Hines was quickest in Pro Stock Motorcycle, with a performance of 6.899 at 195.85 mph. He earned four bonus points for being third quickest in the first session and the fastest in the second.