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CONCORD — Suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield and his lawyer met with NASCAR officials Thursday afternoon to discuss his positive drug test.

NASCAR officials indefinitely suspended Mayfield on May 9 after he failed a random drug test taken at Richmond the week before.

A NASCAR spokesperson described it as a "good meeting'' between the two groups.

"They are eager for him to return to racing," said NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston in a statement. "To do so, Jeremy needs to meet with Dr. (David) Black who will provide a specific program for him to follow. If that program is completed successfully, then Jeremy can seek reinstatement from NASCAR."

Mayfield said last week he would not complete a rehabilitation program because he says his positive drug test was a reaction between a prescription drug and over-the-counter medicine.

Bill Diehl, a high-profile Charlotte lawyer, would not state to NASCAR Scene after Thursday's meeting if he would file any legal paperwork today.

"We're contesting everything that happened," Diehl told NASCAR Scene. "We hope that it's a mistake. ... Jeremy doesn't' believe he's done anything that supports being suspended for use of drugs."

ON THE POLE: Ryan Newman scored his eighth career pole at Lowe's Motor Speedway, taking the top spot for Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 with a lap of 188.475 mph.

Kyle Busch will start second after a lap of 188.258 mph. Jeff Gordon (188.193 mph), Mark Martin (188.166) and Jimmie Johnson (187.820) complete the top five.

Bill Elliott qualified 10th and will make his 800th career start, becoming only the seventh driver in series history to make that many Cup starts.

Failing to qualify were David Starr, Mike Garvey, Todd Bodine and J.J. Yeley.

QUITTING EARLY?: Jeff Gordon said his back problems could lead him to retire from the sport sooner than expected if it doesn't improve. Gordon had a procedure on his back Monday and says he's feeling better.

"They tell me it's going to take six or seven days to really have its full impact,'' Gordon said. "I'm pretty happy so far with the results. Hopefully, we can resolve what's going on. If my back were the way it was at Bristol this year, it's definitely going to shorten my career."

WRENN HONORED: WGHP-8's Kevin Wrenn was one of five journalists who received one of the Motorsports Journalism Awards of Excellence from Aflac on Thursday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The awards recognize outstanding motorsports coverage in five categories while honoring the memory of Russ Catlin, a motorsports journalism pioneer.

PIT STOPS: Carl Long will appeal the record penalty NASCAR issued after he was discovered to have had an oversized engine. NASCAR issued fines of $200,000 and suspended Long, his crew chief and wife, who is listed as the car owner, for 12 races each.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com