Evernham to replace Mayfield for the Glen?

President Lou Demian · Lou Demian - President

Evernham to replace Mayfield for the Glen?

Tooz · Matt Sealey Former Member

although it would be funny, I dont see them booting Mayfield out this weekend unless it was for the rest of the year.

He is still rumored to go to either Bill Davis or Michael Waltrip Racing at years end.

sidenote- Dave Blaney has been confirmed to stay at Bill Davis next year with Cat still sponsering him.

-- Edited by Tooz at 19:57, 2006-08-07

President Lou Demian · Lou Demian - President

Well, I guess it's funny because Bill Elliott is now the listed driver for the #19 car this weekend.

Guess Evernham went back to Bill for his championship provisional.

He's been added to the weekly picks form for 5k.

Rusty Lugnuts · **Riney Enterprises**

Who will finish out the season in the 19? Remember Bill has 2 races each for Red Bull and MWR.

Does Ray dare put Erin Crocker in for some companion events that Bill can't do. Casey Atwood? Hank Parker Jr. Jason Keller.

Any thoughts?

President Lou Demian · Lou Demian - President

Bill has become the hired gun for nearly every team out there this season.

Yet does he have one good finish in any of his starts? None that I can recall.

Speed Demon Racing · Daniel Schmittou Former Member

Don't understand Ray shootin himself in the foot like that. Guess to much shyte has went down between the boys. Jeremy or whoever will finish these remaining races will assure Ray a extremely tough start to next year. Chalk this one up to "rookie ownership move". Ray's smarter than this. Guess Jeremy has really pissed him off. However, bad move on Ray's part. This will bite him in his asre.

Tooz · Matt Sealey Former Member

President Lou wrote:

Bill has become the hired gun for nearly every team out there this season.

Yet does he have one good finish in any of his starts? None that I can recall.

I think they don't want the results as much as they want the payout at the end of the race..........money they wouldn't get if they weren't guaranteed a spot in the lineup.

Tooz · Matt Sealey Former Member

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Bill Elliott will replace Jeremy Mayfield in the No. 19 Dodge at Watkins Glen this weekend, furthering speculation that Mayfield is on his way out at Evernham Motorsports.

NASCAR's official entry list Tuesday showed Elliott subbing for Mayfield, and the team later released a statement confirming the switch. It said Mayfield's long-term future with Evernham is undecided -- but his name had been removed from the company letterhead.

``This team has a great deal of potential and we just haven't met the expectations this year,'' car owner Ray Evernham said in a statement. ``We will do whatever we need to get this car in the show for Watkins Glen. It's important to our sponsors and it's important to this team.''

That meant putting Elliott in the car because as a former NASCAR champion, he's assured a spot in the field.

``Having Bill in the driver's seat gives us this guarantee,'' Evernham said. ``I believe in our system, our process and our people, and am committed to getting this program where it needs to be.''

This weekend's entry list also showed road-course ringer Scott Pruett filling in for rookie David Stremme in the No. 40 Dodge. That change wasn't a surprise considering Pruett replaced Stremme earlier this season for NASCAR's first road course race of the season.

The Mayfield swap is a much bigger deal, considering the driver is a NASCAR veteran with 21 road course starts.

But the team fell out of the top 35 in points -- the mark that guarantees a spot in the field -- and Mayfield has been increasingly frustrated about his performance. A participant in the Chase for the championship the last two seasons, he's currently 36th in the standings and said Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway he doubted he would be back with Evernham next season.

Now it looks like he might not even complete this season. Evernham said he has finalized his 2007 lineup and will announce it shortly, and it's been widely speculated that Elliott Sadler will replace the disgruntled Mayfield.

The team is reeling following Sunday's race in Indianapolis. Mayfield crashed out early, and Kasey Kahne was involved in a last-lap accident that cost him a top-10 finish. He wound up 36th and dropped four spots in the standings to 11th -- out of Chase eligibility.

-- Edited by Tooz at 23:12, 2006-08-08

Helton · Nathan Helton Former Member

That meant putting Elliott in the car because as a former NASCAR champion, he should have been assured a spot in the field. But in a statement released on Wednesday, Evernham Motorsports said, "Unfortunately the timing was such that NASCAR will not provide us with the provisional."

Bill has to get in on speed, no provisional

Nathan

President Lou Demian · Lou Demian - President

Jeremy Mayfield has been released from Evernham Motorsports, team owner Ray Evernham said Friday at Watkins Glen International. "He has been terminated, and I honestly don't want to discuss the terms with that," Evernham said. Mayfield was replaced for this weekend's race by former Cup champion Bill Elliott on Tuesday. When contacted by NASCAR.COM, Mayfield said he knew nothing of the driver change. Evernham, however, said his team contacted Mayfield Motorsports' agent on Monday and began the discussions. There was no immediate announcement of a full-time driver in the No. 19 Dodge, although it has been speculated that Elliott Sadler will likely move to the car. Whether that will happen before the end of the season is unknown for sure, Evernham said. "The decision to make a change in the 19 had nothing to do with whether [a driver change] could or could not happen," Evernham said. "It would make the most sense if we could do that, for sure."

So exactly when did Evernham become such a prick? He couldn't allow Mayfield to run the final 15 races of the year? I am sure Elliott will not be in every race. Oh gee..... why not bring up Erin Crocker? You're doing such a GREAT job with her, Ray!

Well this move may set off a few more by next week. With the #19 vacant, Sadler could leave Yates immediately and take over the #19 car asap. Yates wants to put David Gilliland into the #38 car right away if that happens. If Gilliland races for the rest of the season, he will be inelligible for rookie of the year in '07.

Plus... I don't know, I could be wrong about this but is Gilliland even ready for this? He won one Busch race which could or could not have been a fluke. All of his other finishes in the Busch Series have been below 30th place I think. True, it wasn't the greatest car or team out there, but he made it happen for one race at least. He's only been in one cup race so far and it wasn't a great finish... 32nd at Sonoma. Will Gilliland be another driver who will be rushed too soon and then find himself fired by next season?? Well, the next couple of weeks will prove to be interesting.

-- Edited by President Lou at 13:29, 2006-08-11