Mayfield

NASCAR officials found a tear in the left lap belt while inspecting Mayfield's car following his accident Sunday. The belt was made by Simpson Performance Products, the same company that manufactured the torn belt found in Dale Earnhardt's car following his fatal accident.

Bill Simpson, who resigned this summer as president of the company citing stress from Earnhardt's death, did not immediately return a phone call for comment.

NASCAR officials attributed Mayfield's torn belt to the phenomenon known as "dumping," which was first revealed in the investigation into Earnhardt's Feb. 18 crash.

Dumping occurs when the webbing is pulled or moved to one side of the adjustment device through which the belt webbing travels. When a dumped belt is under stress, it can separate and tear across the entire webbing.

NASCAR said Mayfield's belt was only partially torn. Earnhardt's was completely separated.

Simpson has maintained that Earnhardt's belt would not have broken in the accident if it had been installed properly and there has long been speculation that the seven-time Winston Cup champion tinkered with his belts so that they would fit his sitting style.

Most drivers sit in an almost 90-degree angle and Earnhardt was known to prefer to sit low and in a reclining-type position.

Chip Williams, Mayfield's spokesman, said the crew has insisted the belts were properly installed in Mayfield's car.

"They said everything was in right," Williams said Monday.

Mayfield was not seriously injured in the accident, which started when he blew a tire in Turn 1. He lost control of his car and hit the wall hard between Turns 1 and 2, heavily damaging the front right of his Ford Taurus.

Mayfield walked away from the accident, but was taken to a hospital for treatment on bruises and a chipped tooth.

Mayfield was not available for comment Monday, but Williams said the 32-year-old driver believes he briefly lost consciousness in the accident. Williams said Mayfield did not immediately respond over his radio.

NASCAR has sent the belt to an outside expert for inspection and said it would report its findings to drivers this week.