NOTE: many of the links in the past news will be old and may not work
decided it was not worth the time to go thru each one on all the Team Past News pages
Past 2006 News
Evernham Announces 2007 Paint Schemes: Dodge and Evernham Motorsports announced today new primary paint schemes for the #9 and 19 Dodges of drivers Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler for the 2007 season. The two cars are near mirror images of each other, but both carry the distinctive bold red color of the Dodge brand and signature Ram logo on the hood. Kahne’s racing colors will flip from 2006 to 2007, moving the red from the top side of the Dodge to the bottom and bringing white to the hood and roof areas of the car. The number will again be black on the sides and roof of the Dodge. Sadler’s Dodge will be the reverse of Kahne’s, with red adorning the hood and roof areas of the car and white on the lower portions of the side panels, growing more dominant as it reaches the rear of the car and eventually fully covering the back end from the rear quarter panel.(Clear!Blue PR), see images on my #9 Team Scheme page and #19 Team Scheme page.(12-8-2006)
Evernham expanding in 2007: Evernham Motorsports has won a race in each of its six seasons and qualified for all three editions of the Chase for the Nextel Cup. But success has come with a price. Once able to field cars with $10 million apiece annually and about 60 crewmembers, Evernham has a staff of 330 and says he needs $20 million a car to be competitive. Next year, the team will add a part-time fourth Charger while spending more on the Car of Tomorrow. Evernham estimates his budget will need to grow by $8 million for software, technology and personnel.(USA Today - in part), the team currently fields three Cup teams, one part time Busch team and a Truck Series team.(10-4-2006)
New 'Team Director' [crew chief] for Sadler: Chris Andrews, who started the year as the team director of the #19 Evernham Motorsports Dodge, is no longer being referred to as a co-team director. Andrews had been listed with Josh Browne for several weeks as "co-directors" (the Evernham word for crew chief) for the team, but the listing was changed on the Elliott Sadler team roster this week. Andrews has been reassigned to work on special projects at Evernham. Browne was brought in to help with the transition from Jeremy Mayfield to Sadler when Sadler first joined the team at Michigan in mid-August.(SceneDaily.com)(9-29-2006)
Sadler Fan Club Party Raises $30,000: Elliott, Hermie and the Sadler family hosted 1,000 Sadler fans at the Sadler Barn on Thursday evening prior to the race at Richmond International Raceway. Elliott and Hermie were joined by special guests Blake Shelton and Dale Jarrett. The agenda for the evening included bologna burgers, autographs, photo opportunities, viewing of Elliott's famous hunting dogs and a concert by country music artist Blake Shelton. The Sadler Fan Club Barn Party raised over $30,000 for the Elliott and Hermie Sadler Foundation.(Sadler PR)(9-9-2006)
Evernham to a four car team...in the future: on Speed Channel's NASCAR Raceday, Nextel Cup team owner Ray Evernham said he hope to expand to a four-car team in the future. NASCAR.com has an interview with Evernham by Marty Smith, one quote reports "Do you have plans to add a fourth team? Evernham: Yeah, we're trying to do that. We can't do it next year. We're not going to make next year, but we've got some things that I'm in the middle of putting together right now. The plan really was to go to four teams and we just couldn't get everything together fast enough."(8-26-2006)
Evernham says Sadler talks started in July: Team owner Ray Evernham says that talks with Elliott Sadler began in July, but at that time they centered around a potential fourth Nextel Cup team. Sadler, who drove for Robert Yates Racing through last Sunday's AMD at the Glen, confirmed Wednesday that he would drive Evernham Motorsports' #19 Dodge the remainder of this season. "He was under contract with Yates, and we didn't have a place to put him at that time, so we initially started looking at what we could do in the future with our fourth program," Evernham said in a national teleconference. Evernham pointed out the team's top goal is returning to the top 35 in owner points. Sadler must qualify for the race based on speed this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. Evernham's other two teams, with drivers Kasey Kahne and Scott Riggs, are locked into the field for the GFS Marketplace 400. To help get ready for the event, Sadler and his new team tested together at Kentucky Speedway earlier this week. They're working on the other area that Evernham sees as needing improvement for the team.(SceneDaily.com)(8-18-2006)
Mayfield claims Evernham's absence hurt team [Crocker implication]: Jeremy Mayfield claims in court documents that team owner Ray Evernham's "close personal relationship" with development driver Erin Crocker distracted his team and kept the owner from being an instrumental part of the #19 Nextel Cup team, whose struggles this year eventually led to Mayfield's firing. Mayfield made that allegation in his lawsuit against Evernham Motorsports filed Aug. 9 in North Carolina Superior Court in Iredell County after Evernham Motorsports informed Mayfield Motorsports Inc. on Aug. 7 that Mayfield would not drive the car in the Aug. 13 race at Watkins Glen. Evernham responded in an affidavit that he has worked diligently to make sure that the #19 team had the personnel and resources to be successful. See full report on SceneDaily.com.(8-17-2006)
Sadler to the #19 at MIS OFFICIAL: Elliott Sadler will take over the #19 Dodge at Evernham Motorsports beginning with this weekend's race at Michigan International Speedway, a team official confirmed to The Associated Press. Sadler secured an early release from Robert Yates Racing late Tuesday evening, clearing the way for him to replace Jeremy Mayfield beginning Sunday, according an Evernham official who spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not yet been made.(Associated Press), plus there is a scheduled announcement by Evernham Motorsports for a brief update from Ray Evernham and the new driver of the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger today at 11:30am/et. OFFICIAL: Evernham Motorsports announced today that it has named Elliott Sadler to drive the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger beginning this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. Sadler, who had his first win at Bristol in 2001, has three career wins, seven poles and 16 top fives in 271 starts, brings his hard-charging driving style, fun-loving personality and broad fan appeal to Evernham’s three-car NASCAR Nextel Cup program. He joins Kasey Kahne, driver of the #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger and Scott Riggs, driver of the #10 Valvoline/Stanley Tools Dodge Charger. The 31-year-old native of Emporia, VA, will start his career at Evernham Motorsports this weekend in the backyard of his new primary sponsors – Dodge and the Dodge Dealers. While the terms of his relationship with Evernham Motorsports were not announced, he does have a long term commitment to the program.
“It’s truly an honor to drive for Dodge and Ray Evernham and to be a part of this team,” said Sadler. “I admired Ray as a crew chief and now as a team owner and business leader. His operation is impressive. When you look at the engineering resources, the talented guys on the team, the marketing programs, the facilities and the way he and his directors run things, you can tell that this is a powerhouse organization that is focused on winning races and championships. I look forward to providing some of those wins and hopefully competing with Kasey and Scott for the championship next year.”
Sadler is also excited about his new relationship with Dodge. “My family’s business has a Dodge dealership in Franklin, VA, so it will great to represent Dodge and all the dealers across the country,” he added. “They have some amazing cars and trucks, and I’ll be trading in my current truck for a Ram SRT-10 right away.” Ray Evernham, president and CEO of Evernham Motorsports, said Sadler brings the right chemistry, personality and driving skills to round out his stable of NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers. “So much of the success of a team depends on having the right blend of chemistry and communications,” said Evernham. “Elliott will be a great fit with our team right away and will bring the competitive drive and the ability to communicate with the team what the Dodge Charger needs to perform at its best. I think he’s the key that will place this team firmly on the path to success.” Sadler will get his first experience in a Dodge Charger on Wednesday when his team goes to Kentucky Speedway to test. “We’re looking forward to having Elliott join the Dodge family,” said Mike Accavitti, director of Dodge SRT and motorsports product planning and marketing. “He’s got great star power, he’s a talented driver and has excellent potential to be a champion. He’s a perfect fit for the Dodge brand.”(Clear!Blue/Evernham Motorsports PR)(8-16-2006)
Kahne Double-Clutches (and confirms) Sadler Rumors: #9-Kasey Kahne may have given Knoxville television stations a scoop tonight. Kahne was visiting East Tennessee and signing autographs at NASCAR Speedpark in Sevier County. Speculation is mounting that Elliott Sadler will join Kahne as a teammate next season– although there’s been no official confirmation from Ray Evernham Motorsports– or Sadler himself. Tonight, asked about the situation– Kahne took things one-step further– saying Sadler may join the team in time for this weekend’s race at Michigan. Here’s his quote: “The 19 (car) hasn’t performed at all this year, and actually has been bad at most of the tracks. They’re out of the top-35 in points, so Ray is changing some things around there. I think Elliott Sadler is gonna be in the car this weekend. I think, maybe (smile). I don’t know for sure. I’m pretty sure he is. It’s gonna be good. I mean, next year he’s gonna be my teammate for sure, whatever happens this year."(Wogan on Sports)(8-16-2006)
Latest on the Mayfield-Evernham legal battle: Jeremy Mayfield's immediate legal challenge to the terms of his firing by Evernham Motorsports has been resolved. Mayfield, who was released Monday, filed the request for an injunction in North Carolina Superior Court in Iredell County. Whether he could have gotten in the #19 car Friday is unclear as Bill Elliott pracaticed and qualified at Watkins Glen International. There was a hearing on the injunction Friday in North Carolina, and the parties had agreed in principle to settle after the hearing, a Dodge spokesman confirmed Friday night. The two sides released a statement Saturday morning: "Jeremy Mayfield, Mayfield Motorsports, Inc., and Evernham Motorsports LLC announced that they have agreed to end their relationship effective immediately. The parties agree that it is in their mutual best interests to go in different directions and wish each other success in the future." Elliott Sadler is expected to take over the #19 car in 2007 but possibly will take over the driving duties soon.(SceneDaily.com), looks like at Michigan next weekend.(8-13-2006)
Mayfield out..totally at Evernham? UPDATE 2 yep: hearing Evernham Motorsports has released #19 driver Jeremy Mayfield from driving duties for the rest of the season, no word if the contract situation has been resolved if he has been released....or if he will drive again this season in the Cup series.(8-10-2006) UPDATE: 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."(NASCAR.com)(8-11-2006) MORE: Jeremy Mayfield, whom Ray Evernham said he terminated on Monday, was hoping to stall the firing by getting a temporary injunction Friday. The hearing was scheduled to begin at 11:30am/et in North Carolina Superior Court in Iredell County.
"Jeremy Mayfield has been terminated,"Evernham said. "We have 2007 plans in place. We hope to be able to announce them soon."
While Mayfield is expected to drive for Bill Davis Racing beginning next year, a source familiar with the situation said that team doesn't have an immediate ride available for the driver. Evernham Motorsports, though, is looking for a driver for the rest of the season and owner Ray Evernham would welcome the chance to get a jump on 2007 if the driver he's signed for next year were to become available sooner. That driver is expected to be Elliott Sadler, who may be available by the Aug. 18-20 Michigan Cup race weekend if Robert Yates Racing grants his release after Watkins Glen. For now, Bill Elliott is in the #19 Evernham Motorsports Dodge and Sadler remains in RYR's #38 Ford. Evernham said the reasoning behind the change was simple from his perspective. "Purely the performance of the car and the team is not where it should be to represent sponsors," he said Friday. "It's out of the top 35 in points now and that was really the big trigger on making a change. We just haven't delivered as a group on what we should be doing, so we needed to make some changes." A wreck at Indy knocked the #19 team out of the top 35, meaning its not guaranteed a starting spot for the AMD at the Glen. "It's one of those where as hard as you try to turn things around if they're not working, sometimes you just have to make a change to get it to work and it's certainly not been because of a lack of effort," Evernham said. Elliott is currently scheduled to attempt two more races for Michael Waltrip Racing and three for Team Red Bull. Evernham is expected to utilize the former champion's talent as often as possible until a more permanent replacement for the #19 team is found. "The decision to make the change in the 19 had nothing to do with whether that could or couldn't happen," Evernham said of Elliott's availability. "It would make the most sense if we could do that, for sure. ... But I can tell you that just having Bill Elliott back in the car is pleasant again." A phone call to Dale Cagle, Mayfield's business agent, was not immediately returned on Friday. RYR co-owner Doug Yates isn't sure what the future holds. While it's not been announced yet, David Gilliland will take over for Sadler, either sometime this year or next. "All that just happened, so we have to look at that and see what works," Yates said of potentially releasing Sadler prior to year's end. "We haven't really talked about that right now, but I'm not saying it's out of the question." If so, would Gilliland run more than seven races, making him ineligible for rookie of the year honors in '07? "David and I have talked about that," Yates said. " ... He feels right now he'd rather be in the car as much as he could, so that's the most important thing."(SceneDaily.com)(8-11-2006)
SRT scheme back for #9 and #19 teams at Watkins Glen: #9-Kasey Kahne and #19-Bill Elliott will be running special Dodge SRT paint schemes this weekend, promoting Dodge’s line of SRT (Street and Racing Technology) vehicles. It is the same scheme that was on the cars at Infineon Raceway in June.(Evernham Motorsports/Clear!Blue PR), see images on my #9 Team Scheme page and #19 Team Scheme page.(8-10-2006)
The Elliott-Mayfield PR UPDATE No Champ Provisional Allowed?: Evernham Motorsports announced Tuesday it will bring back past NASCAR champion and Evernham driver Bill Elliott to pilot the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger at Watkins Glen. Elliott drove for Evernham Motorsports full-time from 2001 to 2004, then part time in 2005. Elliott went to victory lane for Evernham Motorsports four times, including winning the prestigious Brickyard 400 in 2002. Jeremy Mayfield, who has been driving the #19 Dodge this season, will not participate in the Watkins Glen event. No decisions have been made regarding his long-term future with the team. The decision was made after efforts to get the struggling #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger back on the right track have not progressed as quickly as needed. The team is currently 36th in the NASCAR Nextel Cup owners’ points standings, which means it does not have a guaranteed spot in Sunday’s event. Elliott brings a champion’s provisional, which means the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger is confirmed in the starting lineup and does not need to qualify solely on speed. “This team has a great deal of potential and we just haven’t met the expectations this year,” said Ray Evernham, president and CEO of Evernham Motorsports. “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. Having Bill in the driver’s seat gives us this guarantee. I believe in our system, our process and our people, and am committed to getting this program where it needs to be.”
Evernham noted that the team has finalized its long term plans for 2007 and expects to announce those plans in the coming weeks.(Evernham Motorsports/Clear!Blue PR) UPDATE - No Champ Provisional Allowed? 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 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."(FoxSports/Associated Press)(8-9-2006) UPDATE 2: Because Bill Elliott was not on the entry list as Jeremy Mayfield's replacement by the July 31 entry deadline, he is unable to use a past champions provisional this weekend at Watkins Glen, NASCAR confirmed Wednesday. Elliott was named the driver of the #19 Evernham Motorsports car on Tuesday.(SceneDaily.com)(8-10-2006)
Mayfield 'doubts' he will be back at Evernham UPDATE 4 Mayfield out at Watkins Glen, Elliott In: While #19-Jeremy Mayfield told reporters Saturday that he doubts he'll be back with Evernham Motorsports next year, team owner Ray Evernham said no decisions have been reached. Asked following qualifying for the Allstate 400 if Mayfield has inquired about his release, Evernham said they'd discussed a number of things. "But we haven't made any decisions," Evernham said. "The first thing we honestly both said was, 'Let's fix this first, because no matter what we decide to do, we can't leave this thing like it is. We have to prove that we can do it. Jeremy's got options, the same as many other drivers. Why wouldn't he? He's been in the Chase two years in a row. If I was a team owner starting a new team, he'd be one of the guys I'd be looking after, too." Mayfield has struggled this season, working with a new crew after Evernham swapped his teams following the 2005 season. Mayfield is coveted by Michael Waltrip Racing and is believed to be a candidate at Bill Davis Racing as well.
It's widely believed that Elliott Sadler [currently with RYR in #38 and has been granted his release for 2007] will replace Mayfield, once Mayfield's granted his release. Evernham said such a decision isn't entirely his own. "That's not all up to me," Evernham said. "We have all these [sponsorship] partners. That's a decision that would have to be sat down and talked about between a lot of people."(SceneDaily.com) AND Jeremy Mayfield is close to signing a deal to drive next season for Bill Davis Racing, multiple sources told NASCAR.com on Saturday. Mayfield, who has a year and two option years remaining on his contract with Evernham Motorsports, would not comment on specific plans for 2007. But he admitted a return next season to the No. 19 Dodge, which reportedly already has been offered to Elliott Sadler, was unlikely. "I doubt I'm staying,'' Mayfield said after qualifying 15th for Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. According to sources, Mayfield already has toured the facilities at Bill Davis Racing and agreed in principal to a multi-year deal to drive one of the organization's two Toyotas next season. Team director Tommy Baldwin confirmed on Friday that Dave Blaney would drive the other car.(NASCAR.com)(8-6-2006) UPDATE 2: It was hard to figure out what was worse for Evernham Motorsports in the Allstate 400 - Kasey Kahne dropping out of the top 10 in points or Jeremy Mayfield's #19 team dropping out of the top 35 in the car owner standings. Mayfield also has had trouble figuring things out all season, and an accident helped relegate him to a 41st-place finish. His team dropped behind #40-David Stremme's in points and he won't be locked in for the Aug. 13 race at Watkins Glen. Evernham was asked after the race if he would consider putting a road-course ace into the car to make sure it qualifies. "I'm going to get together tomorrow with all the other parties and make a decision," Evernham said. "We've just got to sit down and figure it out."(SceneDaily.com)(8-7-2006) UPDATE 3: Bill Elliott is now listed as the driver of the #19 Evernham Motorsports Dodge for Watkins Glen per nascar.com's entry list, looks like Mayfield will sit the road course race out since the #19 is now out of the top-35 in owners points, Elliott running the #19 guarantee's the team will race at Watkins Glen since Elliott has the past champions provisional to use and none of the other non top-35 teams have a past champ in their cars.(8-8-2006) UPDATE 4: Jeremy Mayfield may be free to leave Evernham Motorsports for Bill Davis Racing sooner than he expected.
Bill Elliott will be in the #19 Dodge that Mayfield has driven for EMS since 2002 this weekend at Watkins Glen International, according to the Nextel Cup entry list released by NASCAR on Tuesday. Jeremy Mayfield has been driving the #19 Dodge since 2002.
Contractual agreements remain to be settled before it can be decided if Mayfield will be out the remainder of the season. Team owner Ray Evernham could not be immediately reached for comment. Mayfield, who said last weekend at Indianapolis he likely would not be at Evernham Motorsports next season, said he had not been contacted by Evernham about a switch. "It's not professional, that's for sure,'' said Mayfield, who crashed on Lap 82 of Sunday's race and fell out of the top 35 in owners' points that guarantee a spot in the next race. "That's the way everything has worked around here for a while.'' A spokesperson for Evernham Motorsports said discussions with Mayfield Motorsports management began on Monday.(NASCAR.com)(8-8-2006)
Sadler to the #19? Mayfield to Toyota? UPDATE 4 Yes to Sadler..No to M&M's: Elliott Sadler has until Saturday to tell Robert Yates whether he plans to drive the #38 M&M's Ford next year. With Dale Jarrett leaving at the end of the year, Yates might have to fill two seats. Two drivers reportedly on Yates' short list are Ward Burton and Stephen Leicht.(Orlando Sentinel) UPDATE 1: hearing Elliott Sadler, current driver of the #38 M&M's Ford for RYR, will go to he #19 Evernham Motorsports Dodge with current driver there, Jeremy Mayfield going to one of the three Toyota Teams, most likely Michael Waltrip Racing and the #00 car. AND Speed Channel's Bob Dillner on NASCAR Live, that rumor has Sadler going to the #19 and COULD be taking the M&M's sponsorship with him. UPDATE2 : #55-Michael Waltrip, who will graduate to team ownership with Toyota next year, says he has offered a job to driver #19-Jeremy Mayfield, who recently has expressed dissatisfaction with his current situation at Evernham Racing. "The ball's in his court," Waltrip told Speed Channel after his qualifying run Friday at New Hampshire, referring to Mayfield. "Hopefully it will all come together, and as soon as it does we'll let the world know." That, meanwhile, would open the seat in Evernham's #19 Dodge for Elliott Sadler, who apparently is looking for a way out of his deal with Robert Yates. Other reports say Sadler could take sponsor M&Ms with him to the #19, although that could not be confirmed. Robert Yates and Doug Yates were not at the track Friday, although Slugger Labbe, crew chief for Sadler teammate Dale Jarrett and the #88, hinted, "Where there's smoke, there's fire." Mayfield would complete the lineup for Waltrip's three-car Toyota stable. Waltrip will drive one of the cars, with NAPA sponsorship [#55]. He has hired Jarrett and landed sponsor UPS for the second car [#?], and Mayfield would drive the so-far-vacant third car [#00], to be backed by Domino's and Burger King. Mayfield had no comment on the reports. Sadler denied he had had any negotiations with Evernham, and he has a year left on his contract with Yates. He admitted he had had a long talk with Yates this week at the Indianapolis tests.(Speed Channel)(7-14-2006) UPDATE 3:Sadler denied that he's had discussions with Evernham or anybody from Evernham Motorsports about leaving Robert Yates Racing, but admitted there have been discussions with other teams.(NASCAR.com) AND Sadler insists his overriding commitment is winning for his team and sponsors. The latest speculation has Sadler taking the #19 Dodge of Evernham Motorsports when Jeremy Mayfield leaves to drive a Toyota for Michael Waltrip. At least one Internet site says Sadler must give Yates a “staying or going” statement this weekend. ”I don’t know about any deadline or date or anything like that,” Sadler said after qualifying 18th for Sunday afternoon’s Lenox Industrial Tools 300. “Robert and I talked at Indy [during a recent test]. Our conversation was that we’re not running as well as we’d like; he’s frustrated and I’m frustrated; what do we need to make it better; what direction do we take? We ran a Roush chassis at Chicago [qualified 29th, finished 32nd], but that didn’t seem to be the answer. That was pretty much our 45-minute conversation. So far as a deadline for deciding about next year: I don’t have one; I don’t think Robert has one; M&Ms doesn’t have one. I haven’t made up my mind what I’m going to do. This is the only uniform I’ve had on in four years, so I can see myself driving this 38 Ford again next year."(Ford Racing)(7-15-2006) UPDATE 4: Though he denies any contact with Ray Evernham, Elliott Sadler will drive the #19 Evernham Motorsports Dodge in 2007, multiple sources close to Robert Yates Racing have confirmed. Contrary to recent speculation, M&Ms, Sadler's current primary sponsor at Yates, will not accompany him to Evernham, those same sources say.(NASCAR.com)(7-18-2006)
#400 for Mayfield at NHIS: #19-Jeremy Mayfield will make his 400th career Nextel Cup start this weekend at New Hampshire International Raceway. His first start came at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in 1993 (10/10/93).(Clear!Blue/Evernham Motorsports PR)(7-13-2006)
Mayfield Frustrated, comments on Evernham UPDATE Evernham speaks: #19-Jeremy Mayfield isn't happy with the way his team is performing this year. And he doesn't seem to think team owner Ray Evernham is taking enough of a hands-on approach to fixing what's wrong. "I haven't talked to Ray much," Mayfield said Friday morning. "We don't see Ray much. I don't know. He encourages us when he is around but we haven't seen him much lately." Mayfield said he is surprised that Evernham hasn't been at the track. "He used to be on top of stuff like this pretty hot and heavy and he's letting it take its course, I guess," Mayfield said. Mayfield added: "He is here today, isn't he? I don't think he is here today." Evernham wasn't. Reached by cell phone at Kentucky Speedway on Friday evening, where he was overseeing developmental driver Erin Crocker in the ARCA series, Evernham said he and Mayfield already had talked to clear the air. "I don't think he's upset with me," Evernham said. "I'm sure he's frustrated that we're not performing." With high-profile rides available at two new Toyota teams, Michael Waltrip Racing and Red Bull, for next season, Mayfield sounds as though he would entertain the idea of leaving Evernham if he didn't have a long-term contract. "I've got a contract through next year and I've got two years after that, so I can't talk to nobody," Mayfield said. "So I'm sitting here like a sitting duck. What I do know is we've got to get running better." Evernham said Mayfield hasn't said anything about wanting to out of his contract. "Not to my knowledge," Evernham said. "And again, we're good enough friends (that) we can sit down and talk about anything like that."(ESPN.com/AP) BUT Mayfield said on Speed Channel's Trackside that the comments were taken out of context and while hs is frustrated with how his team has performed but there is no problems between himself and team owner Ray Evernham.(7-8-2006) UPDATE: Statement by Ray Evernham from Chicagoland on Sunday morning. "My commitment to building a championship caliber motorsports organization for numerous racing series and multiple teams has never wavered. Neither has my commitment to providing the best people and resources for our race teams. What has changed is my job. I'm running a significant business with operations in the US and the UK. I have tremendous responsibilities to our sponsors and business partners away from the race track. That's been my focus this season. And, that's why I've put smart, talented people such as Sammy Johns, competition director, Mark MArdle, engine program director, and Dr. Eric Warren, engineering director, in charge of day-to-day operations at the track. Jeremy and I talked this weekend, and we're on the same page. We're both unsatisfied with the performance of his team. We know the potential is there and that Jeremy is a talented driver. It's frustrating when you can't quickly find the solution. That doesn't mean we aren't trying. Jeremy and I are going to continue to work on getting this team where it needs to be. There's a lot of racing left this season and I'm confident that we can get this program on track."(Clear!Blue PR)(7-10-2006)
Dr. Z back on the #19 Dodge at Chicago: #19-Jeremy Mayfield will run Dodge’s special “Ask Dr. Z” paint scheme that debuted in Daytona again in Chicago.(Clear!Blue PR), see image of the scheme on my #19 Team Schemes page.(7-6-2006)
Dodge partners its F-1, NASCAR teams: DaimlerChrysler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche attended Saturday night's Nextel Cup race at Daytona, where his likeness appeared on the hoods of the [#9 and #19 Ask Dr Z] Dodges driven by Evernham Motorsports' Kasey Kahne and Jeremy Mayfield. Then Zetsche flew to Indianapolis to be with McLaren-Mercedes for what turned out to be a short day for the team in Sunday's U.S. Grand Prix. At a news conference Sunday morning at the convention center, where he was joined by McLaren team principal Ron Dennis and NASCAR team owner Ray Evernham, among others, Zetsche said a joint NASCAR/F-1 program isn't as farfetched as it might seem. "The technology is very different, but the principles are the same," he said. "There is much to share. NASCAR has something to tell as far as the show is concerned. I saw Daytona and it's quite something." Zetsche said DaimlerChrysler is committed long term to both programs. "It's our history and will be our future as well," he said. "NASCAR is as American as it can get. We are there to stay." Dennis and Evernham agreed they are in the initial stages of developing their partnership, but both expect it to be fruitful. "It takes time because they're two very different types of motor sports," Dennis said. "It's a learning curve for both of us. But we are blown away by their marketing machine." Evernham acknowledged he has thought about one day being part of a U.S. team effort in F-1 but not until his NASCAR program has produced a championship or two. He is counting on the union with McLaren and Mercedes to help him do that. "It's not just the technology. Take what they're doing with their strategy and their software," he said. "It's great to have a big brother like McLaren. This is what we've been waiting for."(Indianapolis Star)(7-2-2006)
Special paint for Kahne and Mayfield at Daytona UPDATE 2 Challenger: #9-Kasey Kahne and #19-Jermey Mayfield will be running another special paint scheme again this weekend, promoting an advertising campaign for Chrysler that will be announced Saturday, July 1st as Kahne will participate in a major press announcement for Chrysler with Richard Petty.(Evernham Motorsports/ClearBlue PR), see an image of the cars on my #9 Team Schemes page and #19 Team Schemes page, "Ask Dr Z" scheme.(6-30-2006) UPDATE: Tomorrow [July 1st] it is expected that the Dodge will unveil a new production car as part of its Daytona activities. Fans are invited to attend the event to see Richard Petty and Kasey Kahne showcase the new car. AND Chrysler also is expected to unveil details an employee-pricing discount plan for consumers in a campaign that will feature DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche [Dr Z]. UPDATE 2: Chrysler is crashing the muscle-car party with plans to build a production version of the Dodge Challenger coupe that debuted as a retro-styled concept car in January at the Detroit auto show. The automaker plans to herald the return of the Challenger at the Pepsi 400 in Daytona, Fla., on Saturday, according to people familiar with the plans. The Challenger concept, a rear-wheel drive coupe, drew raves from enthusiasts for its old-school looks and growling 425-horsepower V-8 engine.(Detroit News)(6-30-2006)
SRT Paint Schemes for #9 and #19 at Sonoma: Evernham Motorsports teammates #19-Jeremy Mayfield and #9-Kasey Kahne will run special SRT paint schemes on their Dodge Chargers at Infineon Raceway. Dodge SRT vehicles offer the boldest, most powerful performance for the Dodge lineup. Every SRT vehicle showcases five key aspects: Exterior styling that resonates with the brand image; race-inspired interiors; top-notch ride and handling characteristics across a dynamic range; benchmark braking; and standout powertrain. Kahne’s #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge SRT Charger will carry their signature bold red Dodge color, in addition to white on the rear quarter panels and black striping along the sides. SRT lettering is on the sides and hood of Kahne’s Dodge Charger. Mayfield’s #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge SRT Charger will take a more bold tact with bright yellow on the hood and the sides, eventually blending to black on the rear quarter panels and back of the car. It will be a distinctive look for the #19 Dodge Charger. Like the #9, red SRT lettering will be on the hood and quarter panels. Another notable change in the schemes is the Dodge Charger’s rear panel, which
displays Dodge’s website with information regarding the SRT program and encourages viewers to visit Dodge’s SRT website, www.driveSRT.com.(Evernham Motorsports/Clear!Blue PR)(6-20-2006)
Mayfield plans on staying at Evernham: #19-Jeremy Mayfield, one of the veterans in the garage, said he’s unfazed by all the Silly Season chatter, even rumors about his status with Evernham Motorsports. “If I was a younger driver and had never been through it, it would be pretty tough, but I’ve been through it before,” he said. “I don’t really pay attention to it anymore. I just do what’s best and do what’s right. I stay focused and do the best we can as a team and get better every week. Whatever happens then happens, and I know I’ve done all I can do. Right now I’ve got a contract with Ray (Evernham) through this year and next year and hopefully two more years after that. That’s what my intentions are, to finish this deal out and do the best we can. I know a lot of stuff is going on right now in the rumors about different drivers but hopefully we’re not one of them.”(Speed Channel) AND Jeremy Mayfield clarified his contract status, pointing out that he has no plans to move on since he is signed with Evernham Motorsports through 2007. Mayfield, dogged by rumors that he's in the mix for several open NASCAR Nextel Cup rides, has repeatedly stated that he's planning to continue building his team this season. But it wasn't until Friday that he outlined the contract that he plans to honor.(SceneDaily.com)(6-10-2006)
Kyle Busch Fined, Placed on Probation by NASCAR; Mayfield Penalized: NASCAR announced that Kyle Busch, driver of the #5 Kellogg's Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports, has been fined, penalized points and placed on probation because of a rule infraction this past Sunday during the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Busch was in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the NASCAR Rule Book. He disobeyed a directive from a NASCAR official, entered the racing surface without authorization and threw an object at another competitor’s car during the event. He has been fined $50,000, penalized 25 Driver Championship points and placed on probation until Dec. 31. The infraction also resulted in car owner Rick Hendrick being penalized 25 Owner Championship points.
In addition, the #19 Dodge team was found to be in violation of Section 12-4-A, 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and Section 20-12.8.1A (roof height too low in post-race inspection). That infraction resulted in crew chief Chris Andrews being fined $35,000, driver Jeremy Mayfield losing 25 driver points and car owner Ray Evernham losing 25 owner points.
Also, Don Richardson, crew member on the #5 Chevrolet team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. He violated 12-4-A, because of improper use of a NASCAR credential.(NASCAR PR)(5-31-2006)
Mayfield's car failed post-race inspection at LMS: Jeremy Mayfield's #19 Dodge failed post-race inspection following the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The roof was one-eighth of an inch too low. There is a quarter-inch tolerance given for settling during the race, but the Evernham Motorsports car was an eighth of an inch below that tolerance, NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Director John Darby said Tuesday. Penalties likely will be announced Wednesday. Being too low typically is a 25-point penalty accompanied by a $25,000-$35,000 fine. "The way we run these cars now, these [front] springs settle and you never know how much," team owner Ray Evernham said. "They were low, no doubt about it." Evernham said there would be no appeal of a penalty. His team members told him that the car was in the "red" - the color on the height sticks that signifies the car is too low - in post-race inspection. "The bottom line: It was low," Evernham said. "We know why it was low. The front springs gave up. The thing settled too much. There's no appeal - you're either right or you're wrong, and there was red showing."(SceneDaily.com)(5-31-2006)
Mayfield to Davis? Waltrip? UPDATE no way: #19-Jeremy Mayfield is also in middle of a lot of Toyota talk, perhaps leaving Ray Evernham to take a Toyota ride next season with [#22/23] Bill Davis, perhaps even taking a third Toyota ride with Waltrip, who indicated last week that he had a third major sponsor in the works.(Winston Salem Journal), but Mayfield re-upped with Evernham last year and is supposedly signed thru 2008.(5-21-2006) UPDATE: #19-Jeremy Mayfield says he working hard to help his team turn around their 2006 season and denies garage area gossip he's looking for another ride. Mayfield told PRN's Garagepass; "As far as me out looking that's defiantly not true, I haven't been out looking nowhere for nothing. I have a contract with Ray (Evernham) I'm driving for Ray and Dodge. My head has been down working on our own stuff trying to get our own stuff better. Our deal is hard enough as it is let alone start throwing the rumors and all that stuff around."(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(5-24-2006)
Mayfield expects no changes: Despite a disastrous season to date, #19-Jeremy Mayfield said he foresees no major shakeup to his Evernham Motorsports team, which was reorganized late last year. “I don’t expect any changes other than we might add a few people. Chris (team director Andrews) and I have started to come together,” Mayfield said Saturday. “It hasn’t showed up yet, but it’s better than it was a couple of weeks ago as far as him understanding what I like and me understanding how he does things on the car. It’s just like Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Michael Waltrip when they switched up (prior to the start of the 2005 season). You saw what happened on that deal. Dale Jr. couldn’t hit his butt and Michael took off running good. That’s just part of what we’re going through right now.”(Speed Channel)(4-30-2006)
Evernham Motorsports joins effort to find missing woman: Evernham Motorsports president and CEO Ray Evernham announced that the decklid of Jeremy Mayfield’s #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger will feature a photograph of 24-year-old Jennifer Kesse, missing from the Orlando, Fla., area since Jan. 24, during Sunday’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kesse was reported missing when she failed to show up for work on Jan. 24. NASCAR team owner Evernham attended high school with Kesse’s mother Joyce, and felt compelled to help when he heard of the disappearance. Since the search for Kesse began, the Orlando Police Department has received more than 1,000 leads, but officers are still hopeful that someone out there has additional information that can lead to a break in the case. There is an $115,000 reward for information leading to her safe return. For more information about Jennifer Kesse, please visit jenniferkesse.com. Anyone with information concerning her disappearance, please call 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).(3-14-2006)
Cup team considering move to Indy? UPDATE Evernham Denies: in a Darrell Waltrip column at FoxSports: "by the way I was in Indy this past week on some business. There's a rumor going around that some big NASCAR team was thinking about moving to Indianapolis, and I was talking to some folks who may have given me an inside track on who it might be. It's a guy that's got three cars and no crew chiefs, if that helps you any."(FoxSports), no crew chiefs? Evernham Motorsports uses Team Directors...not crew chiefs.(1-6-2006) UPDATE Evernham denies: Team owner Ray Evernham said Sunday morning that there was absolutely no truth to the rumors that he was considering relocating his team from Statesville, N.C., to the Indianapolis area. The state of Indiana has been trying to lure teams to the Hoosier state, but Evernham said he wouldn’t even consider leaving his current location, which abuts an airport and houses the rapidly growing Evernham Motorsports operation. “I have not talked to anybody at Indy,” Evernham said Sunday morning. “We have no intention of moving Evernham Motorsports. We’re more than happy where we’re at. And actually, it’s been distracting to the team because I had a lot of people coming up and asking me about it. I have no idea where that even came from.”(Speed Channel)(3-13-2006)
Special Schemes for #9 and #19 at Vegas: #9-Kasey Kahne and #19-Jeremy Mayfield's Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Chargers will run special paint schemes in Sunday's UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Flames [DW will be happy] will extend down the length of each car and the hoods will feature the race logo for the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400.(Clear!Blue/Evernham MS PR), ni images to post..yet.(3-8-2006)
Past 2005 News
Knaus leaving Hendrick? UPDATE denied: hearing [or have leaned] that #48 Hendrick Motorsports crew chief, Chad Knaus will leave the team and driver Jimmie Johnson and go back to Evernham Motorsports [was one of Evernham's first hires, until moving to #92 Melling team in 2001], then Hendrick Motorsports in 2002 to crew chief Johnson. UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports says Knaus has no plans to leave Hendrick Motorsports and has multiple years remaining
on his contract.(12-2-2005)
Baldwin gone from Evernham? UPDATE New Team Structure at Evernham: hearing #9 crew chief, Tommy Baldwin Jr. has left Evernham Motorsports, no word on where he is headed. MORE hearing this is true and that there could be some crew swapping between the #9 and #19.
UPDATE 8: As the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup season winds down, planning for 2006 is already well underway at Evernham Motorsports. For President and CEO Ray Evernham, it is anything but business as usual. Evernham is developing a new architecture for team success, one designed to foster better collective thinking, decision making and intellectual innovation. In 2006, Evernham will do away with the crew chief position on all of his race teams, instead installing a leadership team similar to many corporate structures. Each of the Evernham Motorsports Nextel Cup teams will have a Team Director, a Car Director and an Engineer. Evernham designed the new team structure with an eye toward the future and the continued evolution of the sport. #19: For 2006, the leadership and team members of Evernham Motorsports will shift their alignment to better share the knowledge and thought-processes throughout the organization. The team that comprises the #91 Evernham Dodge Charger today will move to the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger, driven by Jeremy Mayfield. It will be led by Chris Andrews as Team Director. Kirk Almquist will be the Car Director and Tim Malinovsky will be the Engineer. #9: The #19 team will shift to the #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger, which Kasey Kahne will continue to drive. Kenny Francis will be the Team Director for the #9 team, Mike Shiplett will be the Car Director and Keith Rodden will be the Engineer. #10: The #9 team will support the new No. 10 Valvoline/Stanley Tools Dodge Charger and driver Scott Riggs. Rodney Childers is the acting Team Director, and the leadership team will be announced at a later date.
The new team structure will be in effect for the final race of the 2005 season at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20, 2005.
Tommy Baldwin, Team Director of the #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger, will serve as a team consultant at Miami before moving on to pursue his dreams of running his own team. "Tommy will be leaving Evernham Motorsports to hopefully start his own operation," added Evernham. "He's very interested in being a team owner, and I want to help him get started just like Rick Hendrick helped me get started. I've known Tommy since he was 10 or 11 years old, and wish him the very best in the future."
"I appreciate the opportunity to work with Ray for several years," said Baldwin. "I've learned an awful lot from him. I also appreciate him letting me move on and helping me accomplish what I want to accomplish in the future. I came to Ray some time ago and told him this is what I've wanted to do. He didn't have any problems with that. He was in the same position with Rick (Hendrick) when he wanted to move on. Ray has helped me through all this and helped my decision making. I'm thankful for his friendship. Kasey and I have talked about this," he added. "He's going to win plenty of races with me or without me. He just has a God-given talent. I'm not worried about that. I'm glad I've become really good friends with him, and hopefully we can carry that into the future."
The remaining positions within the new team structure at Evernham Motorsports are expected to be named in the next few weeks.(Clear!Blue/Evernham Motorsports PR)(11-15-2005)
#9 and #19 get newe 2006 paint schemes: When the green flag falls at the 2006 Daytona 500 next February, the Dodge Chargers of Jeremy Mayfield and Kasey Kahne will be sporting bold new paint schemes reflective of the bold design of the popular Dodge Charger production vehicle. The new 2006 Dodge Dealers paint scheme provides Kasey Kahne and Jeremy Mayfield distinctive yet familiar team identities. The new scheme maintains the Dodge trademark red color and provides greater on-track visibility for Dodge Dealers.
The #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger of Jeremy Mayfield will still feature the bright red hood with the signature Dodge Ram's head and branding for the Dodge Dealers. But, the Dodge Charger will carry black doors and fenders with red numbers on the side and white numbers on the roof. Mayfield drove a black car in several races in 2005, and made a special request for a cool black Dodge Charger for 2006.
Kasey Kahne's #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger also will have a new look for 2006. His Charger will carry the same bright red hood and Dodge Ram logo as the #19, but will have white doors and fenders. The numbers on the side of the car will be black and the top of the car will be white. Diecast models of the new #9 and #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Chargers will be available through Action Performance beginning February. To purchase online, visit evernhammotorsports.com.(Clear!Blue PR)(11-15-2005)
Slugger to leave the #19? UPDATE 2: hearing #19 crew chief, Slugger Labbe could leave Evernham Motorsports at the end of the season, possibly going back to Robert Yates Racing, as the crew chief for #38-Elliott Sadler?(10-26-2005) UPDATE: Statement from Ray Evernham on the Leadership for the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger: "We have decided to make a change on the leadership team for the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger driven by Jeremy Mayfield. The team, led by Team Director Kenny Francis for the past three years, has shown great promise and potential. We've qualified for the Chase for the Championship for the second year in a row. But, we have high expectations for this team, both for the remainder of the 2005 season and for next year. We still have four races to run this season, all of which are on tracks where we've been successful. We're confident that we can re-energize this team to bring home solid finishes in these last four races and move up in the Chase for the Championship. We are already planning for next year, and we recognize that we need to make several changes to regain the momentum this team had earlier in the year and to ensure we have the right people in the right places to win races and a championship.
As part of this change, Richard "Slugger" Labbe will no longer serve as crew chief for the team. Kenny Francis will continue to lead the team as he has the last three years, and Mike Shiplett, currently the car chief for the team, will share Labbe's duties with Francis. Slugger Labbe made good contributions to this team this year, and we wish him well as he pursues other opportunities."(ClearBlue/Evernham Motorsports PR)(10-27-2005) UPDATE 2: Richard "Slugger" Labbe said a lack of chemistry with Jeremy Mayfield was behind his departure from Evernham Motorsports this week. Mayfield has one top-20 finish since making the Chase for the Nextel Cup for the second consecutive year. "I just didn't fit in," said Labbe, who declined another position at Evernham. "We got in the Chase, and we've just been mediocre. I want to win and be in the top five every week." Labbe expects to join another team by next week's race at Texas.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-29-2005)
Special scheme at Kansas for Mayfield: On October 9th at Kansas Speedway, #19-Jeremy Mayfield will race a special paint scheme featuring Mountain Dew's newest flavor, "Pitch Black". Mountain Dew Pitch Black combines the great taste of Mountain Dew with a blast of black grape flavor.(Action), see an image of the scheme on my #19 Team Schemes page.(8-31-2005)
Evernham Announcement at Indy: #9, #19, #91 [#10 in 2006] team owner Ray Evernham and driver Kasey Kahne are scheduled to announce plans for 2006 and beyond on Saturday morning at Indy.(Clear!Blue PR)(8-4-2005)
Rondeau finds a new home: Pete Rondeau has negotiated his release from Dale Earnhardt Inc. and joined Evernham Motorsports [#9, #19, #91]. Rondeau started the season as #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief but was removed from that position after 11 points races. He joined Evernham on July 18 as director of research and development.(Sporting News)(8-1-2005)
Former Crew Chief third in fishing tourney: Former NASCAR crew chief Mike Hill was part of a scoring team last weekend in the Midlands Striper Club/Hydro Glow Fish Lights Tournament on Lake Murray. Hill, who lives in Ronda and works at Evernham Motorsports in Statesville, teamed with his brother, Allen, to place third with 341/4 pounds in the night tournament. The Hills had the event's largest single striper, which weighed 15 pounds, 15 ounces. Tournament proceeds help the S.C. Department of Natural Resources' striper stocking program.(Charlotte Observer/Tom Higgins)(7-21-2005)
Bad News Bears scheme for Mayfield at Daytona: At this summer's NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, Jeremy Mayfield will sport some additional firepower on his #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge
Charger - that of Billy Bob Thornton, Greg Kinnear and Marcia Gay Harden, stars of the new Paramount Pictures comedy "The Bad News Bears," which opens nationally on July 22. Mayfield, a fan of the original "Bad News Bears" will carry the pin-striped signage for the new movie on the hood of his Dodge Charger to promote the comedy, which was first released in 1976. The #19 Dodge will feature a distinctive red and white paint scheme featuring baseballs and classic pin-stripes. "Bad News Bears" is a fresh take on the irreverent 1976 comedy hit, "Bad News Bears" follows a grizzled former minor league baseball player who is recruited to coach the Bears, a woefully inept Little League team, to a championship against their hated rivals, the Yankees. Richard Linklater is the director and Marcus Viscidi is the executive producer.(Clear!Blue PR), see an image of the scheme on my #19 Team Schemes page.(6-30-2005)
Evernham Motorsports to make 2006 announcement on Friday, July 1st at Daytona International Speedway, announcing news for the 2006 season.(6-28-2005)
New Assoc. sponsor for Evernham - Allstate: Allstate announced a multi-year deal with Evernham Motorsports. The associate sponsorship will make Allstate the official auto, home, life and supplemental insurance, motor club and retirement products
sponsor of the race team. Earlier this year, Allstate signed a multi-year agreement with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to become the title sponsor for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. As part of the sponsorship agreement, #9 driver and 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year Kasey Kahne, #19 driver Jeremy Mayfield and legendary driver Bill Elliott, along with Evernham
Motorsports crew members, will display the Allstate logo on their race uniforms. Two new television ads currently in production will feature Evernham Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne in a race setting, yet with a humorous twist that challenges viewers to consider the unique circumstances in which they would need their insurance. One spot focuses on the new Allstate Your Choice Auto Insurance. In addition to unique race-themed advertising, Allstate will launch a national consumer promotion beginning July 1, offering the chance to win a trip and tickets to this year's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and other prizes, including a meet and greet with Kasey Kahne and a ride in the official pace car. Committed to diversity and its growth in motorsports, Allstate will also work with members from Evernham Motorsports' driver development program, including Tommy Lane and Erin Crocker, on a broader diversity program with NASCAR. Lane, who is African-American, competes in the Late Model Stock Division at Hickory Motor Speedway, while Erin Crocker, the first female to join Evernham Motorsports, competes in the NASCAR Busch Series and ARCA Series. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate.(Clear!Blue PR) AND Third Round of Exclusive eBay Auctions to Begin Thursday, June 30th, to benefit the Charity Chopper Fundraiser, helping to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This month's featured prize is an American Rodsmith, Evernham Signature Series bass fishing rod. The rod is autographed by Ray
Evernham, president and CEO of Evernham Motorsports, as well as Bill Elliott, driver of the #91 Stanley Tools Dodge Charger. For more information about blood cancer, visit www.LLS.org.(6-28-2005)
Evernham hopes to run full 3rd team in 2006: Evernham Motorsports [#9, #19, #91] is close to getting the money needed for a third full-time entry in NASCAR's top series. The third full-time Nextel Cup entry would take over the #91 team that is now a part-time ride for Bill Elliott, team owner Ray Evernham said Friday. Elliott would not be the driver, but the NASCAR veteran, who cut back to a limited schedule in 2004, can remain affiliated with the program, the owner said. "I would love to run a third team," Evernham said. "We have the infrastructure in place. We've built the new building [in Statesville, N.C]. We have the people ready. We have the plan ready. But I'm not going to pull the trigger until I know the money's in place." Evernham said he hopes to have the finances for the third team in place by the end of July or August at the latest. Evernham's two main drivers are #9-Kasey Kahne and #19-Jeremy Mayfield. He also has ARCA driver Erin Crocker on a developmental team, and he's working on getting her a solid Busch Series program for next year. As for Elliott, who is racing at Michigan International Speedway this week, the former Cup champion has the choice of doing what he wants.(ESPN.com/AP)(6-18-2005)
Mayfield and Kahne to test: #19-Jeremy Mayfield and #9-Kasey Kahne are scheduled to test at Carolina Motorsports Park, in Kershaw, S.C., next Thursday, June 16. The teams will use the test to prepare for the June 26 roadcourse race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA.(Clear!Blue/Evernham PR)(6-8-2005)
Labbe ill, Francis calling the shots: Slugger Labbe, crew chief for the #19 Dodge of Jeremy Mayfield is at the track, but feeling the effects of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and is resting in his motor home at Dover International Speedway, Team Director [and last years crew chief] Kenny Francis will call the shots today at Dover.(MRN Radio/FX TV Coverage)(6-5-2005)
Mayfield signs new contract with Evernham: Jeremy Mayfield will be driving for Evernham Motorsports for the foreseeable future. The 36-year-old driver has signed a multiyear contract with the Dodge team. "Year after year, he has shown that he can be a constant candidate to win races and make the Chase for the Nextel Cup," Ray Evernham said Saturday at Dover International Speedway. "He has been a great team player for Evernham Motorsports."(CBS Sportsline/AP)(6-4-2005)
Dickerson resurfaces: Former Hendrick Motorsports chassis developer Eddie Dickerson (released back in February) is consulting for Evernham Motorsports #9-Kasey Kahne and #19-Jeremy Mayfield.(Sporting News)(5-23-2005)
Top Banana and Go ManGo! Chargers Unveiled AND: As part of its introduction of the new limited production 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, Dodge unveiled two new Bud Shootout paint schemes on the #9 and #19 Evernham Motorsports Dodge
Chargers, celebrating the modern rear-wheel-drive muscle car. Jeremy Mayfield will pilot the #19 Top Banana Dodge Charger, and Kasey Kahne will drive the #9 Go ManGo! Dodge Charger in Saturday night's race at Daytona International Speedway. The paint schemes are replica versions of the two classic 1960s color schemes available on the Dodge Charger Daytona R/T production vehicles available starting this summer.(Clear!Blue PR), see images on my #19 Team Schemes page and #9 Team Schemes page.(2-12-2005) AND these schemes are also running in the Dodge Charger 500 at Darlington Raceway this weekend.(5-7-2005)
Rusty and Jeremy Makeup: When they competed together under the Penske umbrella, Jeremy Mayfield and Rusty Wallace endured a rocky partnership as teammates. Now, with Mayfield admittedly older and wiser and Wallace in the twilight of his career, time appears to have healed the wounds. Mayfield currently competes in the Busch Series driving the Miller High Life Light Dodge owned by Wallace. He'll steer that car throughout today's Sharpie Professional 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway. "I kind of feel honored to be honest with you," Mayfield said Friday. "His last year, (Rusty's) Last Call, he asks me to drive it." It's a surprising turn of events, considering the frosty state of affairs between the two in the Penske days. But Mayfield says that's all in the past. "You know, there's a lot of things I did wrong that I could've done better to make that whole deal work," he said. "We'd probably still be teammates right now. But I had a lot of growing up to do and had to be humbled and mature a lot, too, and I feel like I have." Now with the Ray Evernham Dodge team in Nextel Cup competition, Mayfield said he sees a whole different side of his former teammate. "We never really got to know each other when we were teammates," Mayfield said. "Now, the more I'm around him, I'm like ‘Man, this guy's cool as hell.'"(Kingsport Times News), may Newman and Rusty are next to fix things?(4-2-2005)
Top Banana and Go ManGo! Chargers Unveiled: As part of its introduction of the new limited production 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, Dodge unveiled two new Bud Shootout paint schemes on the #9 and #19 Evernham Motorsports Dodge
Chargers, celebrating the modern rear-wheel-drive muscle car. Jeremy Mayfield will pilot the #19 Top Banana Dodge Charger, and Kasey Kahne will drive the #9 Go ManGo! Dodge Charger in Saturday night's race at Daytona International Speedway. The paint schemes are replica versions of the two classic 1960s color schemes available on the Dodge Charger Daytona R/T production vehicles available starting this summer.(Clear!Blue PR), see images on my #19 Team Schemes page and #9 Team Schemes page.(2-12-2005)
Evernham to design and manufacturer racing parts: The Evernham Group has made its first venture outside the United States with Evernham Advanced Engine Technology, a company based in Northampton, England. It will design and manufacture racing parts for NASCAR and other series and will be headed by Mark McArdle, a veteran engine builder with a long background in Indy Car racing prior to moving to the stock-car ranks.(Speed Channel's Media Tour Notes)(1-26-2005)
Past 2004 News
Slugger leaves DEI UPDATE 2: Richard "Slugger" Labbe -- who served as #15-Michael Waltrip's crew chief earlier this season and also worked with Earnhardt Jr. Truex's teams, has left DEI and joined Evernham Motorsports. Evernham officials confirmed Labbe has been named director of speedway development, over Evernham's #9 and #19 Dodges, driven by Kasey Kahne and Jeremy Mayfield, respectively.(ThatsRacin)(12-1-2004) UPDATE: Richard "Slugger" Labbe, former crew chief for Michael Waltrip at DEI, has been hired to oversee Evernham Motorsports' speedway development program for drivers Kasey Kahne's and Jeremy Mayfield's restrictor-plate efforts. Labbe has already started work in Evernham's Statesville, N.C., shop in preparation for the 2005 season, which opens with the Daytona 500 -- a restrictor-plate race.(NASCAR.com)(12-4-2004) UPDATE 2: Effective immediately, Richard "Slugger" Labbe, who joined Evernham Motorsports to lead Speedway Development, adds responsibilities as Crew Chief for the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge race team with driver Jeremy Mayfield. Kenny Francis remains Team Director for the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge, focusing on engineering and technological innovation for the team. In a related move, Josh Browne, Race Engineer for the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge, was promoted to Director of Vehicle Dynamics for Evernham Motorsports.(Evernham Motorsports/ClearBlue PR)(12-14-2004)
Evernham signs Crocker to development deal: Evernham Motorsports announced that it has signed sprint-car star Erin Crocker to a development deal that will allow the hottest young female driver in racing to compete next year in the Silver Crown, ARCA and NASCAR Busch Series. Crocker, the first female to win a World of Outlaws race, caught the attention of Ray Evernham and Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year Kasey Kahne for her performance in open wheel racing. Evernham Motorsports partnered with Kasey Kahne Motorsports and has signed Crocker to an agreement that involves her running the Silver Crown Series in a Kasey Kahne Motorsports car, along with three Busch races and three ARCA races in an Evernham Dodge. Sponsors for the program have not yet been announced. “This is like a dream come true,” said Erin Crocker. “When Ray Evernham called, I was considering several options. But once that phone rang, my mind was made up. It is an unbelievable opportunity to race for him – if you consider what he done with other rookies such as Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne. This is a chance for me to learn as much as I can, in several different types of cars, from the best in the business. I get to race with a team that focuses on innovation and inspiration, and drive for a leader who puts teamwork, engineering and technology first. It’s absolutely incredible.” Crocker has already moved to Charlotte, N.C. to prepare for her intensive training program. When not racing, Crocker likes to participate in outdoor sports, shop and spend time with her friends and family.(Evernham Motorsports/Clear!Blue PR)(12-8-2004)
Evernham Motorsports wins the championship: Evernham Motorsports won the Inaugural Totally Racin' Flag Football League Championship, beating Roush Racing 40-35. Totally Racin' Softball and Flag Football League founder/coordinator Bob Hubner is now looking to start a Totally Racin' Basketball League in January 2005 for NASCAR Teams in the Mooresville/Charlotte, NC area. More info at racecityresumes.com.(11-18-2004)
Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper to sponsor Evernham Motorsports: In their continued quest for high performance, aftermarket auto parts giant Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper has inked its first NASCAR deal as associate sponsor of Evernham Motorsports and includes primary status on the #91 Dodge in the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and on the #79 Dodge in the NASCAR Busch Series. Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper is the first aftermarket auto parts distribution network to partner with Evernham Motorsports. Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper’s partnership with Evernham Motorsports is a multi-faceted marketing program. The automotive aftermarket brands take the lead with the primary sponsorship of the #91 Dodge in 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup races at Michigan International Speedway on August 25, 2005, and Texas Motor Speedway International on November 6, 2005. Veteran racer and former NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Bill Elliott will drive the #91 Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper Dodge. Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper will be an associate sponsor of the #91 Dodge for all other races in 2005 and will receive branding on Elliott’s uniform, team haulers and pit equipment. Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper’s partnership with Evernham Motorsports also includes primary sponsorship of the #79 Dodge. In the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series, Kasey Kahne will drive the #79 Dodge at New Hampshire International Speedway on July 16, 2005 and teammate and NEXTEL Chase contender, Jeremy Mayfield, will take the wheel at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on October 14, 2005. Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper’s association with Evernham also will be used in key customer outreach efforts, retail marketing efforts and internal promotions. The affiliation will compliment Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper’s existing partnership with NASCAR and its new NASCAR Performance Network program, a branding and locator platform associating Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper’s parts stores or service centers with NASCAR’s 75 million fans.(Clear!Blue PR)(11-2-2004)
Evernham Tribute UPDATE / IMAGE: Hearing that in remembrance and tribute to Hendrick family and Motorsports, all Evernham Motorsports cars will run the remaining races of the year with black numbers, including this weekend's special Mad Magazine schemes.(10-27-2004) UPDATE: Evernham Motorsports Dodges driven by Jeremy Mayfield and Kasey Kahne will carry black numbers #19 and #9, respectively, the remainder of the season in memory of the victims in the Hendrick Motorsports plane crash last Sunday. Also, the tail number of the plane, 501RH, will be in front of the rear wheel well on the Evernham Motorsports Dodges.(Clear!Blue PR)(10-29-2004) IMAGE see an image of the car with the black number #9 and the plane number [circled in the image] on my #9 Team Paint Schemes page.(10-31-2004)
Can you say 'Hemi'? Sweeet: Jeremy Mayfield's No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge will carry a special orange HEMI paint scheme for this weekend's NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway. The paint scheme is running to promote the success of the new HEMI engine available in many of Chrysler Group's vehicles including the 2004 Dodge Ram, Dodge Durango, Dodge Magnum and Chrysler 300C. The special paint scheme will mark the first return of the HEMI brand to NASCAR Cup Series racing since the early 70s.(ClearBlue/Evernham Motorsports PR), see images of the scheme on my #19 Team Paint Schemes page or the 2004 Cup Paint Scheme page.(10-7-2004)
Jeremy's Tshirt says 'Stay Away': Wearing an orange shirt (the same color as Robby Gordon's car) that read "I want you to stay far, far away from me," Jeremy Mayfield qualified first yesterday for the MBNA 400 a Dover International Speedway. He edged Ryan Newman with a 159.405-mph lap his second slowest this year at the 1-mile oval. Mayfield, who set a track record (161.522) in June, became the first driver to complete a season sweep of pole positions at Dover since Cale Yarborough in 1980. Mayfield needs a strong result tomorrow. He dropped 142 points out of first after he got caught in a crash started by Gordon at New Hampshire International Speedway on Sunday. But his #19 Dodge has proved resilient recently, clawing its way into the Chase by winning at Richmond International Raceway after two subpar showings. "We're going to have to do that every week from here on out," he said. "That's what this team seems to be really good at. We get knocked down, chewed up, spit out and booed off the stage, but we come right back. When the going gets tough, we feel like we perform our best." Mayfield hadn't heard yet from Gordon, who said yesterday morning he wanted to apologize to Mayfield and Tony Stewart, the other title contender victimized by his spin. "Obviously he wasn't in too desperate of a search for me," Mayfield joked. "It might have been the shirt. What's cool is that [Gordon's car owner] Richard Childress called. He apologized and said he was very sorry. That's classy of Childress. Richard didn't seem to have any problems getting a hold of anybody."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(9-25-2004)
Congrats: Kenny Francis, Team Director of the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge from Evernham Motorsports, is proud to announce the birth of he and wife Rebecca's first baby girl. Emma Michelle Francis was born at 10:26 p.m. last night (Tuesday, Sept. 21). Emma weighed 10 lbs. 3 oz. at time of delivery. Kenny chose the middle name Michelle for her. Mother and child are doing well, and Kenny Francis will be back on the pit box this weekend at Dover.(ClearBlue/Evernham Motorsports PR)(9-22-2004)
Mayfield wins at Richmond and gets in 'The Chase': #19-Jeremy Mayfield won the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway Saturday night, leading the most laps, and clinching 9th in the 'Chase for the Nextel Cup'. It is Mayfield first win in 142 races, at Pocono on June 19, 2000, the 4th of his career. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. was 2nd, followed by #24-Jeff Gordon, #80-Mike Bliss [best career finish] and #6-Mark Martin. #99-Carl Edwards was 6th, his 3rd top 10 in his first 4 races. #32-Bobby Hamilton Jr. finished 11th, his career finish [best was 14th at Talladega in Oct 2001]. Some great pre-race ceremonies honoring 9-11.
For more on the race, lap leaders, DNFs, cautions, notes, how the top 10 starters did, etc. see my Richmond Race Info/Rundown Page.
For race results, see: Jayski's Richmond Race Results/Awards page Motorsports One NASCAR.com.(9-11-2004)
Last Week for Summer Sales Driver Scheme: The #9 and #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge's will run its "Dodge Summer
Sales Drive" paint scheme for the final week in Bristol. #9-Kasey Kahne's and #!9-Jeremy Mayfield's Dodge's has run this paint scheme since racing at Chicago in July.(ClearBlue PR)(8-25-2004)
#9 and #19 Schemes for the Summer: the #9 and #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge will continue to run its new paint scheme this weekend in New Hampshire. The new scheme will run through the August 28th race in Bristol in support of Dodge's
Summer Sales Drive.(Clear!Blue PR)(7-20-2004)
Mountain Dew back on the #9 and #19 - #9 at MIS: Evernham Motorsports teammates Jeremy Mayfield and Kasey Kahne showed their alliance to the "Dew Crew" today when they unveiled their Mountain Dew Dodge paint-outs plastered with the team green at the Michigan International Speedway. "Fueled by Dew," Kahne's #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge will feature a Mountain Dew paint scheme when he competes in the DHL 400 this Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. Mayfield will race in his Mountain Dew-themed #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge at the Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on November 14. Mountain Dew is sponsoring Kasey Kahne and Jeremy Mayfield throughout the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. Both drivers are making appearances for Mountain Dew during the season and they are featured on in-store display materials. In addition, Mountain Dew sponsors the over-the-wall pit crews for Kahne and Mayfield. Their teams are known as the "Dew Crew."
"The association between Mountain Dew and Evernham Motorsports is such a big part of our race team and I've enjoyed working with them," said Mayfield who is in his third season as a driver for Evernham Motorsports. "Everything they do is so much fun to be a part of. I'm excited about the Dew paint scheme I'll be running at Darlington and look forward to making the other drivers green with envy."
"This is my first year being associated with Mountain Dew, it's been fun so far," said rookie driver Kasey Kahne. "Everyone on the team has been great to work with and each week I meet new people who are part of the Mountain Dew team. I love Mountain Dew, so working with them comes naturally. Running the Dew car at Michigan this weekend is something I'm looking forward to. It's always fun to drive a car with different paint on it. It gets the fans' attention and if you do well it helps the sponsors." This marks the fourth year that Mountain Dew has sponsored Evernham Motorsports. Pepsi-Cola North America, the makers of Mountain Dew, has been involved with NASCAR since the sport was introduced in 1948. Today, Pepsi serves its products at 16 of the 23 Nextel Cup Series tracks and is the title sponsor of NASCAR Nextel Cup races in Daytona, Fla. (Pepsi 400), and Darlington, S.C. (Mountain Dew Southern 500).(Evernham Motorsports/Clear!Blue PR), see images of the cars on my #9 Team Paint Schemes and #19 Team Paint Schemes pages.(6-18-2004)
Evernham may get into the engine business: Evernham Motorsports [#9,#19,#91] owner Ray Evernham said he is looking to expand his engine program and has had preliminary talks with several NASCAR teams. Although the most likely case would be to start building engines for a new team in 2005, Evernham said he could be ready sooner. "I think if we had someone who came to us and said we needed engines, we could do something right now. How extensive an effort we could manage right away remains to be seen," Evernham said. There are at least three full-time Nextel Cup Series Dodge organization that do not currently build their own engines, Petty Enterprises, BAM Racing and Arnold Motorsports.(ThatsRacin)(6-11-2004)
Evernham Helping Out: Ray Evernham, CEO of Evernham Motorsports [#9, #19, #91], has been named National Chairperson of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk. Evernham will put serious horsepower behind the Society's efforts to raise funds for lifesaving cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. The Light The Night Walk is the Society's annual fall event held in communities throughout the U.S. to raise money for blood cancer research and patient services. Last year, the walk raised more than $18 million in 260 communities. Evernham, a longtime supporter of the Society, has a personal connection to blood cancer. In 1992, his son, Ray J, was diagnosed with leukemia at just under a year old. Today, Ray J. is a healthy teenager. In cities across the country, teams of co-workers, families and friends walk together along a two- or three- mile route in twilight holding illuminated balloons -- white for survivors and red for supporters. The walks commemorate lives touched by blood cancer. Individuals and teams of walkers are invited to participate.
Call 800-LTN-WALK or visit www.lightthenight.org.(Evernham Motorsports PR)(5-19-2004)
Evernham Motorsports Hosts Third Annual Fan Appreciation Day: Evernham Motorsports [#'s 9.19.91] will hold its third annual Evernham Motorsports Fan Appreciation Day featuring Jeremy Mayfield, Kasey Kahne, Ray Evernham and Bill Elliott to thank fans for their support of the team and provide them an opportunity to meet the stars of Evernham Motorsports in person. Evernham Motorsports Fan Appreciation Day will be held Friday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Evernham Motorsports facilities in Statesville, N.C. Throughout the event, fans will have the opportunity to tour the race facility and meet members of the Dew Crew. The day will conclude with an autograph signing with Elliott and a second with Mayfield, Kahne and Evernham. Charlotte's WFMX-FM will be doing a live broadcast from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from the event. In addition, a silent auction will be held featuring several items including race memorabilia. Funds from the auction will be distributed to Racing for a Reason, a foundation established by Ray Evernham that benefits several worthy causes. For more information and directions, visit www.evernhammotorsports.com.(5-18-2004)
#19 Jackman out for year UPDATE: Ed Watkins, Jack Man for the #19 Dew Crew, will be out for the remainder of the season after suffering injuries to both knees in April. He is replaced by Rick Pennington for this weekend’s race at Richmond. Pennington also subbed as Jack Man for the team at Talladega and California.(ClearBlue/Evernham Motorsports PR) UPDATE: a correction - Rick Pennington will NOT be subbing as the #19 Dew Crew Jack Man this weekend at Richmond. Mark Schmuck, Jack Man with the #38 Dodge Busch Series team will sub this weekend.(5-13-2004)
More on the EM Noses: By covering the noses on its cars, Evernham Motorsports is only distracting Darrell Waltrip. Ray Evernham has been working really hard with his guys to come up with more power, and it's starting to show at the race track. If the noses on Evernham's cars were illegal, NASCAR would be on top of it, and they would put a stop to it, especially after DW and everybody said, "Lookie here!" NASCAR is going to look extra long and hard at it. It's made for interesting conversation, but I don't believe anything's happening that warrants NASCAR's concern.(FoxSports/Jeff Hammond), see the initial story/rumor and pictures of the noses on my #19 Team News and Links page.(3-16-2004)
Suspect Noses? Evernham Motorsports Dodges qualified first [#9], sixth [#19] and 10th [#91] at Las Vegas, and other teams were suspicious about what advantage the Evernham crews had found. Rival manufacturers took pictures of the noses to examine the changes. The competitors discovered the noses were designed to offer greater downforce in the front and rear. "It's totally legit," one competitor says. "It's so simple it makes you mad that you didn't come up with it." Although the Evernham cars were constructed completely within the rules, chances are NASCAR will develop a new body template that defines that nose area.(FoxSports/Sporting News), while walking along pitroad before the race, the #9 and #19 cars had the noses/grill area coveredd up and didn't remove the covers until after the two cars fired up and just before the left pitroad.(3-8-2004)
Suspect Noses? a pic of the #9 nose covered
then exposed as the car was ready to roll
and a comparison shot of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge. (I don't see the difference)
UPDATE Team owner Ray Evernham wears criticism about his cars from other competitors at Las Vegas last week as a badge of honor. Several teams claimed Evernham's teams had altered the noses on their Dodges to improve their performance, even though the cars still fit NASCAR's rigid template screening. "I'm happy again. People are looking at my stuff and taking pictures," Evernham said. "I'm still the same guy. I didn't go to sleep. I didn't go away. We're going to do everything we can do within the rules and within the templates and make our stuff good. The same things win races, good aerodynamics, good horsepower and good drivers." Evernham's rookie driver, Kasey Kahne, has finished second in the past two Nextel Cup races and is eighth in points. Teammate Jeremy Mayfield is 14th in points.(ThatsRacin)(3-12-2004)
Evernham cars get some spinach for July Daytona Race UPDATE: hearing that the #9 Dodge of Kasey Kahne and the #19 Dodge of Jeremy Mayfield will sport Popeye The Sailorman 75th Anniversary schemes in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July.[no images...yet](1-9-2004) UPDATE: Evernham Motorsports, King Features, Action Performance, Dodge and America's Favorite Sailor will unveil the #9 and #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW/Popeye Dodges on Friday, March 12, 2004 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It will celebrate Popeye's 75th Anniversary.(3-10-2004)
Evernham to build own chassis: Evernham Motorsports has taken the next step in expanding its resources by developing a chassis in-house that Bill Elliott tested last month at Las Vegas. Team owner Ray Evernham says the project has been in the works for the past three years and that building the frame took 120 to 140 man hours, not including the research involved in the design. "If you want to compete at the top level, you're almost forced (to build your own chassis)," Evernham says. "We're a year behind in doing it, but it's finally going." Evernham says the chassis needs more testing, but he hopes to install it in Kasey Kahne's and Jeremy Mayfield's cars in the near future.(Yahoo Sports/Sporting News)(2-16-2004)
Engine Tuner leaves Evernham: Engine tuner Mike Hawkins parted with Evernham Motorsports last week. Considering that Kasey Kahne's engine failed Sunday on lap 43, it was obvious that Hawkins was missed. Hawkins is rumored to be headed for Toyota. Coupled with Jon Dennison's earlier departure at Richard Childress Racing, there now are tuner openings on the Nos. 9 and 29 teams. But the head engine builder's job at DEI -- vacant after Richie Gilmore's move to director of motorsports -- will be the hardest to fill. The company has been very secretive with the construction of its engines. The concern is that an engine specialist could come in, stay a few years and take the information elsewhere. If that's not enough, the pressure of maintaining a record that includes winning 10 of the last 13 restrictor-plate races will be intense.(Yahoo Sports)(2-16-2004)
Mountain Dew Back with the #19 and will sponsor the #9: #9-Kasey Kahne, NASCAR Nextel Cup Series rookie, is the newest member of the Mountain Dew team. Kahne joins his Evernham Motorsports teammate, #19-Jeremy Mayfield, who has been sponsored by Mountain Dew since the 2002 season. Pepsi-Cola North America, makers of Mountain Dew, announced an agreement with Evernham Motorsports to extend their sponsorship to include rookie driver Kasey Kahne and the over-the-wall crew of Kahne’s #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge who compete in the Nextel Cup Series. The Evernham Motorsports pit crews for Kahne and Jeremy Mayfield will be known as the “Dew Crews.” Kahne’s Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge will race in a special Mountain Dew color scheme for one race in 2004. In addition, Kahne and Mayfield will appear on in-store display materials and make appearances during the season for Mountain Dew. This marks the fourth straight year that Mountain Dew has sponsored Evernham Motorsports drivers and teams. Pepsi’s involvement with NASCAR began when the sport was introduced in 1948. Today, Pepsi serves its products at 16 of the 23 Nextel Cup Series tracks and is the title sponsor of NASCAR Nextel Cup races in Daytona, Fla. (Pepsi 400) and Darlington, S.C. (Mountain Dew Southern 500).(Clear!Blue PR)(2-13-2004) IMAGES added a few images of each car to the 2004 Cup Paint Scheme Gallery.(2-15-2004)
#19 / #97 may be fined: Jeremy Mayfield's #19 team and Kurt Busch's #97 team are likely to be penalized further for infractions found by Nextel Cup officials, series director John Darby said. The rear deck lid on Mayfield's car failed to fit the template. Busch's car had a rear bumper support confiscated. Teams are allowed to place added weight in the support as long as it is in an approved container. The weight in Busch's car was not in such a container. Also taken were an illegal spring from Derrike Cope's #50 car; underpans from the cars of #7-Jimmy Spencer, #24-Jeff Green, #29-Kevin Harvick, #0-Ward Burton and #95-Andy Belmont [who withdrew]; and adjustable fender braces from the cars of #20-Tony Stewart, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #15-Michael Waltrip and Busch.
Other violations included illegal windshield clips from Larry Foyt's #14 car, an illegal wheel opening on Earnhardt's #8 car, and expired Hutchens Devices from #2-Rusty Wallace and #72-Kirk Shelmerdine. Darby said that the adjustable fender braces are not as likely to incur a further penalty. Teams are allowed to use adjustable braces during practice but not during qualifying.(Roanoke Times)(2-11-2004)
Evernham cars get some spinach for July Daytona Race: hearing that the #9 Dodge of Kasey Kahne and the #19 Dodge of Jeremy Mayfield will sport Popeye The Sailorman 75th Anniversary schemes in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July.[no images...yet](1-9-2004)
NHL and the #19 and NASCAR: #19-Jeremy Mayfield will supposedly run an NHL All-Star Game scheme in the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona on February 7th, 2004.(12-22-2003) UPDATE: Dodge, Evernham Motorsports and the National Hockey League will meet at Center Ice For the Unveiling of the NHL All-Star #19 Dodge To Run in the 2004 Bud Shootout on Thursday, January 8, 2004.(Clear!Blue PR)
see an image of the car on my #19 Team Schemes Page and there are many drivers 'dropping pucks' in Jan/Feb, see the Driver Appearances page for the info.(1-2-2004)
Past 2003 News
Testing at Nashville: Evernham Motorsports brought their Dodges to the Nashville Superspeedway for two days of testing on December 17 & 18. NASCAR drivers Bill Elliott, Jeremy Mayfield, Kasey Kahne, and Elton Sawyer were all in town to participate, as was their owner, Ray Evernham. Mother Nature decided not to cooperate, so the testing was cut short due to weather, but the teams plan to reschedule and return to the superspeedway in early January. Mayfield said," We'll be back in a few weeks I think. This is a great place to test, it's my second visit and I look forward to coming back soon. I can't believe Nashville doesn't have a Cup race yet, hopefully in the near future."(Nashville Superspeedway PR)(12-19-2003)
Evernham Announces 2004 plans; Kahne to the #9; Elliott to a limited schedule:
Elliott to run limited schedule in Evernham Motorsports Dodge
Kahne succeeds Elliott as driver of the #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge
Baldwin joins Evernham as team director for Kahne’s #9 Dodge team
Evernham Engines to supply engines for Kahne’s Busch Series Dodge
Evernham Motorsports announced its lineup this morning for the 2004 NASCAR season. The lineup will include NASCAR legend Bill Elliott, who will run a reduced race schedule in an Evernham Motorsports Dodge; NASCAR Busch Series standout Kasey Kahne, who will succeed Elliott as the driver of the #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge; Jeremy Mayfield, who will continue as driver of the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge; and Tommy Baldwin, who will join Evernham Motorsports as team director for the #9 Dodge team.
Elliott announced his intentions to run a limited schedule for several years and remain with Evernham Motorsports as mentor and coach to the team’s drivers. Elliott’s role will expand in a business capacity with Evernham Motorsports, lending his talent in a variety of endeavors on and off the track. Details of Elliott’s participation as an Evernham Motorsports Dodge driver in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series still are being finalized. Initial plans call for a limited schedule with Ray Evernham and director of competition Sammy Johns overseeing the on-track program for Elliott.
Elliott, the 1988 Winston Cup champion, also announced plans to include fan events in his 2004 schedule. In a show of appreciation for their unending support, Elliott is planning several celebrations to thank his loyal following for their devotion during his four decades of NASCAR competition. More details will follow once sponsorship is secured and Elliott’s final schedule is determined.
Kasey Kahne assumes Elliott’s role as driver of the #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge. In addition to running a full Nextel Cup schedule in the #9 Dodge, Kahne will compete full time in the NASCAR Busch Series next season. Evernham Engines will supply the #38 Great Clips Dodge with engines for 2004.
Tommy Baldwin joins Evernham Motorsports as team director for Kahne’s Cup operation. “Ray and I have known each other for a while,” said Baldwin. “The opportunity for us to work together never seemed to present itself like I wished it would have. I’m just glad it did this time. Our visions are the same, and I think you’ll see that translate well on track.”
As previously announced, Jeremy Mayfield remains in the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge for Evernham Motorsports in 2004, with Kenny Francis returning as team director.
Evernham is pleased that Elliott will remain with his organization. “I’m fortunate that things have fallen into place like they have,” said Evernham. “Bill and I worked closely to make sure we were taking this company in the right direction, but I also wanted to make sure that he had the space to really make the right decision for himself. In making that decision, I think we as an organization have made some strong personnel moves. Kasey Kahne is a bright, young star in this sport, and he will accomplish a lot with guidance from one of the best in the business. Tommy Baldwin is an asset, and I feel very lucky to have him on board. And, we have a solid base with Jeremy Mayfield and Kenny Francis returning as well. With these moves, we are on track with the vision I have for this company, and these additions only make us stronger as we move into 2004.”(Evernham Motorsports site)(12-4-2003) UPDATE 2: Some confusion remains on what number cars Elliott and Kahne will drive in Cup competition. Elliott said he'll continue to drive the #9 Dodge in events he enters, but Evernham announced Thursday that Kahne will drive the #9 Dodge. Since Kahne will race the full 36-event schedule, it's likely he'll either drive cars with two different numbers (he'll drive in an alternate number car in events that Elliott races in). Potentially, Elliott might have to take a different number. A third option is keeping Elliott in the #9 and giving Kahne a similar number like #09 or #90 or #91 [already used by the team]. The only non-confusing element is that Jeremy Mayfield will remain in the #19 Dodge. Adding to the confusion was Elliott's take on the whole matter. Early in Thursday's teleconference, he remarked that "Kasey Kahne will be the driver of the 9 car." Moments later, Elliott said, "Right now when I run I'll run the 9; Kasey will run the 9 when I'm not racing. We've got a plan, but we're still trying to put it all together." For his part in all this, Evernham said: "Since it's not a retirement tour (for Bill Elliott), we haven't worked out all the car number stuff yet. We're still looking for partners to come on board with us, so they would certainly have some input on the number. Bill is going to run 10-15 races. On the day Bill Elliott decides it's going to be his last race, he will drive the No. 9." He will likely skip the season-opening Daytona 500 and the second race of the season at Rockingham, and make his first start of the year in the third race at Las Vegas. He also foresees running at places like Michigan, California, Pocono and Indianapolis.(ESPN)(12-5-2003)
Evernham, why a Busch team? Evernham Motorsports, running their first Busch race this weekend at Rockingham, is running the Busch Series to get Jeremy Mayfield get some track time and because team owner Ray Evernham plans to start building Busch Series engines to lease in 2004. Also of note, Elton Sawyer, former Busch Series driver is working with the team as a consultant.(Speed Channel's coverage of Busch Series Qualifying)(11-7-2003)
Mayfield in the #79 Busch Series Dodge at the Rock: Evernham Motorsports will field the #79 Mountain Dew Dodge in the Busch Series at Rockingham. Mayfield will drive the entry and Sammy Johns will serve as crew chief. In addition to Mountain Dew, Dodge, Ingersoll-Rand, Cometic Gaskets, Action Performance, Freightliner, Siemens, Valvoline, and PPG will serve as associate sponsors on the No. 79 Dodge. The entry is the first for Evernham Motorsports in the Busch Series.(Evernham Motorsports PR)(11-5-2003)
Mayfield's Options: Jeremy Mayfield's decsion came down to length of contract [and of course how well the #19 team has been doing of late], supposedly RCR offered Mayfield as one-year deal to drive the #30 AOL Chevy, while Evernham offered Mayfield a two-year extension to stay where he is and is running good of late.(Speed Channel Coverage of Cup Qualifying and see a NASCAR.com article:
Mayfield came close to leaving Evernham)(10-25-2003)
Evernham to field a Busch car? It was mentioned during qualifying when #9 and #19 team owner, Ray Evernham was congratulating Bill Elliott on his top five qualifying run, that Evernham was asking Elliott to sponsor his Busch car at Rockingham [the sponsorship thing was a joke] but seemed the running a Busch car was the real thing.(10-25-2003)
Mayfield staying with Evernham: Jeremy Mayfield, the subject of much speculation regarding his future in the series, has signed a contract extension with his current owner, Evernham Motorosports, to remain in the #19 Dodge, ThatsRacin has learned.
An official announcement of Mayfield's re-signing with Evernham is expected later Wednesday afternoon. Mayfield, 34, joined Evernham following the 2001 season. He owns three career Winston Cup wins, but none since joining Evernham. He is currently 20th in points, with nine top-10 and three top-five finishes, including two runner-up finishes. Mayfield's first Cup win came in 1998 with Penske Racing, when he also finished a career-high seventh in points. He earned two more wins in 2000 and left the organization near the end of the 2001 season. Mayfield struggled at the start of this season, but in recent weeks his #19 team has improved dramatically. All three of his top-fives this season have come in the past seven races. Mayfield has grown increasingly frustrated recently as his job status appeared to be up in the air, and other Cup teams began expressing interest in his services. "All we need is to be left alone for a while," Mayfield said following his second-place finish at Dover, Del. "Let us race. We've fought rumors since I've been there. I've been in the rumor mill forever. Now, the 9 car is. ... Let us race."(ThatsRacin)(10-22-2003)
Dodge Dropping Teams? UPDATE: Dodge may cut back its Nextel Cup operations by limiting car owners to a single team sponsorship, which could be why Jeremy Mayfield has felt under such pressure lately with car owner Ray Evernham.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-18-2003) UPDATE: Evernham Motorsports has been the center of various rumors lately but team owner Ray Evernham wants to put one of them to rest. During an interview for RPM2Day he made it clear that his team will definitely field two cars full time next season. There were rumors that he would field just one.(ESPN)(10-21-2003)
Evernham losing sponsor? Jeremy Mayfield could be on the way out of the #19, mostly because Evernham could have sponsorship troubles.(
NASCAR.com Buzz), but it doesn't expand on it, have not heard anything about Dodge Dealers leaving Evernham.(10-10-2003)
Looks like Riggs to Cup in 2004; either Evernham or DEI? Scott Riggs [driver of the #10 ppc Ford in Busch] has been debating between Winston Cup offers from Ray Evernham and DEI, according to sources. If Riggs takes the DEI ride, as expected, Jeremy Mayfield could remain with Evernham. Doug Randolph could become Riggs' crew chief at DEI. Shane Hmiel had been No. 2 in line for the DEI ride behind Riggs until he ran afoul of NASCAR's drug-abuse policy. NASCAR has still not offered any timetable for the Richmond drug test that Hmiel took or any details of the drugs involved or what medical treatment program would be acceptable.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-29-2003)
More on Mayfield and RCR: While Jeremy Mayfield has been hot with car owner Ray Evernham this month and is bidding to hold his Dodge ride, insiders say that Mayfield continues to be a front-runner for a ride with Richard Childress. Steve Park, Childress' third driver, failed to make the 500 field yesterday.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-27-2003)
Mayfield sounds like he is staying at the #19: Runner-up finisher #19-Jeremy Mayfield hopes that his recent streak of five finishes of 11th or better will dispel persistent rumors his job with team owner Ray Evernham is in jeopardy. "Ray and I want the team to stay together, and that's best way to say it," he said. "It would be a shame, and whoever would split this team up is crazy. That's how confident I am about it."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(9-22-2003)
Evernham, Ward and Baldwin? Ward Burton and crew chief Tommy Baldwin could be back together again if talks with car owner Ray Evernham prove fruitful, according to Dodge sources. However, Baldwin denies any such plans are in the works with Evernham. Burton will likely leave car owner Bill Davis at the end of the season, but Dodge wants to keep the 2002 Daytona 500 winner in the Dodge fold.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-15-2003)
More on Elliott and Mayfield: Where Jeremy Mayfield may drive next season could depend on Bill Elliott's decision on retirement that his expected later this month. Mayfield's second place at Richmond was his best run with car owner Ray Evernham, but in their nearly two years together Mayfield has all but vanished on race days, leading to rumors he was looking for another ride, possibly with Childress. Why the Mayfield-Evernham team hasn't clicked any better has been a mystery. Sources close to Elliott have said that he will announce his retirement. If so, then Evernham may have to make some tough decisions. Mayfield said he has signed a contract renewal and given it to Evernham and is waiting to see what Evernham does.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-11-2003)
Evernham to one team? Akins to move up with Kahne? There has been speculation on the future of Evernham Motorsports if Bill Elliott retires and Jeremy Mayfield moves on after this season. Mayfield, who had a season-high second-place finish at Richmond, says he does not want to leave and adds that the potential for chemistry is there between him and crew chief Kenny Francis. One scenario that has been suggested is Evernham losing one team and Brad Akins' #38 Busch Series team changing allegiance from Ford to Dodge. That would allow Dodge to promote that team and its driver, 23-year-old Kasey Kahne, to Winston Cup.(FoxSports), thought Kahne was signed with Ford?(9-8-2003)
Mayfield signed his half? Evernham has not? #19-Jeremy Mayfield has been expected to leave Evernham Motorsports, but he has signed a contract renewal and sent it to Evernham. 'It's signed. My half. Let's see if he'll sign his half,' Mayfield said. Mayfield is also figured to be under consideration by Richard Childress. However, complicating the Evernham issue is the possibility Dodge executives could reshuffle their NASCAR sponsorships, cutting some teams back to a single deal. Expected to land a full Dodge deal, however, is car owner Jim Smith -- crew chief Tommy Baldwin says he'll need to know the team's sponsorship situation within the next 30 days or prepare to move on.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-6-2003)
Mayfield Out? Re-signed? UPDATE 2 going to the #30 car?: Ray Evernham may be in the market for a new driver, if Jeremy Mayfield leaves [the #19 car]. Evernham and other Dodge team owners have been under heavy pressure from Dodge executives to improve performance.(Winston Salem Journal) AND being told by source Mayfield will leave the #19 team, no idea where he goes, and who goes into the #19? would imagine a young gun of some caliber.(8-30-2003) UPDATE: however, PRN's Garage Pass reported on Thursday that Mayfield's option for 2004 was picked up by Evernham Motorsports.(8-31-2003) UPDATE 2 - not so fast?PRN's Garage Pass radio show reported last week car owner Ray Evernham and driver Jeremy Mayfield agreed to a new contract extension, however it appears that hasn't stopped Mayfield from talking with car owner Richard Childress. Sources tell PRN Mayfield has talked with Childress about the AOL Monte Carlo ride if Childress decides to replace Steve Park. Park, who says he wants to make it hard for Childress to replace him wants to stay with the #30 team. He recently finished 5th at Michigan.(9-3-2003)
Evernham not changing drivers: There has been talk that Brendan Gaughan, who leads the Craftsman Truck Series in points and victories (four), might move to Cup racing in 2004, possibly with Evernham Motorsports. Though Gaughan, 28, tested for the organization in the past, team owner Ray Evernham says the next logical step for Gaughan would be the Busch Series. One thing is certain: Evernham has no intention of replacing Bill Elliott or Jeremy Mayfield next year. “For his age (47), Bill is one of the best drivers I've ever worked with, and he carries our deal on his back a lot of the time,” Evernham says. “I feel like I owe him a lot.” …(Sporting News)(8-20-2003)
#9 and #19 get a Mane UPDATE: hearing #9-Bill Elliott and #19-Jeremy Mayfield will sport Lion King paint schemes at Kansas Speedway in Oct.(6-23-2003) IMAGES: see images of the cars at 2003 Winston Cup Paint Schemes - Car #'s 0-23.(8-19-2003)
Gaughan and Evernham? UPDATEs: some sources say that Brendan Gaughan's [#62 in the Truck Series] name has come up as an option for Evernham Motorsports if changes are made or they choose to run the third R&D car [#91 Dodge](3-22-2003) UPDATE: .....a mention of CTS driver Brendan Gaughan as a possible driver for on of Evernham's three cars, brought this response from Gaughan: "I want to go to Winston Cup, we know that," Gaughan said. "But I don't ever want to hope that someone does bad. I'm rooting for all the other Dodge drivers. Right now I'm just worried about getting our team through this Craftsman Truck Series season. We're third in points -- two points out of second -- and that's right where we want to be at this point. I haven't heard anything about the rumor, but it's cool my name's out there. That's a bonus." ...(Las Vegas Review Journal)(3-28-2003) UPDATE 2: Brendan Gaughan, one of the hottest drivers on NASCAR's Truck tour, is under consideration for a Winston Cup ride with Ray Evernham, according to sources.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-28-2003)
Mayfield extension? hearing that Jeremy Mayfield, driver of the #19 Dodge Dealers Dodge is close to signing a contract extension with Evernham Motorsports. Should put to rest the rumors he is leaving or being booted.(7-26-2003)
#9 and #19 get a Mane: hearing #9-Bill Elliott and #19-Jeremy Mayfield will sport Lion King paint schemes at Kansas Speedway in Oct.(6-23-2003)
Hornish and DEI rumor resurfaces UPDATE or is it Mayfield?: Sam Hornish's name is again being mentioned prominently as the man who could join Dale Earnhardt Inc. next season as team mate with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip. The 23-year-old Hornish, the 2001 and 2002 IRL champ, is sponsored by Pennzoil, which is the company DEI is trying to re-sign [for the #1 Chevy now driven by Jeff Green/Ron Fellows]. There is word that Hornish might get a shot at a DEI ride at Michigan in August.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-9-2003) UPDATE: First in line for the DEI job appears to by Jeremy Mayfield, who currently drives for Ray Evernham's #19 Dodge team.(Toronto Sun)(6-9-2003) UPDATE 2: Jeremy Mayfield said during an interview with XM Satellite- NASCAR Radio (Subscription Required) that he had no plans to go to DEI and hopes to re-sign with Evernham Motorsports to stay in the #19 Dodge(6-17-2003)
Mayfield to Petty? So this weekend rookie Christian Fittipaldi is in the Petty car that Andretti drove the last five years, and Andretti is looking for a job. And Petty is hearing speculation that Jeremy Mayfield may be on his list as a driver. Mayfield's year and a half with car owner Ray Evernham has been very disappointing.(Winston Salem Journal); Mayfield has also been rumored to the #1 DEI car.(6-14-2003)
Evernham's Return to Racing rained out: Ray Evernham's much-ballyhooed return to driving at Wall Township Speedway Saturday ended like most of New Jersey's races this year with a driving rainstorm. But it wasn't from lack of trying. Speedway officials waited out Saturday's morning and afternoon rains, and track safety vehicles circled the third-of-a-mile asphalt oval during a brief respite in the rain from 4:30.-6:00/pm/et. But another shower that hit shortly after 6:00pm/et officially canceled the show that was to include a 15-lap match race featuring Hazlet native and NASCAR Winston Cup car owner Evernham. The race is not expected to be rescheduled. Ticket stubs from Saturday's show are good for admission to any Wall race for the rest of 2003, with the exception of the June 29 NASCAR Modified Series race and the July 26 appearance of NASCAR Winston Cup drivers Michael Waltrip, Steve Park, Sterling Marlin and Kenny Wallace.(Newark Star Ledger)(6-2-2003)
Mayfield Safe in the #19; Elliott signed thru 2005, and Atwood back? Evernham Motorsports owner Ray Evernham debunked rumors Tuesday of #19-Jeremy Mayfield's demise and also spoke of the futures of #9-Bill Elliott and Casey Atwood. Mayfield has been the subject of the media rumor mill based on his lackluster results this season. Despite a 2002 season in which Mayfield finished 26th in the standings with two top-fives, four top-10's and seven DNFs, Evernham said he was unquestionably standing behind his driver. "Jeremy Mayfield is in the 19 -- there's no question about his future," Evernham said. "We're working as hard as we can work to get that 19 car back to the front (and) they're probably closer than you think. It's not an easy sport (but) as long as we keep communicating and holding hands and digging hard, that's all that we can do." Elliott, 47 will be driving Evernham's #9 Dodge well into the future. "Bill is under contract through 2005, and he knows that No. 9 car is his as long as he wants to drive it," Evernham said. "He has said he'll give us plenty of notice if he decides he wants to do anything else." Atwood, 22, was displaced when Mayfield was hired to drive the #19 car beginning last year. In 2002, Atwood drove the No. 7 Dodge for Evernham/Ultra Motorsports, but he was released near the end of the season. He remains under contract to Evernham, though he's been given his release to seek other opportunities [such as the #82 U.S Navy Chevy in the Busch Series]. Evernham will field a #91 Dodge at Pocono next month for Atwood, and has said he would like to do more races with that car. "We're still working with Casey Atwood," Evernham said. "There's a chance he might be back in one of the red cars some time in the future."(see full story and quotes at NASCAR.com)(5-20-2003)
Mayfield to drive truck at Charlotte: Ultra Motorsports owner Jim Smith announced that Jeremy Mayfield will drive the team's third Dodge Ram entry in the inaugural Truck Series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway this Friday night. Mayfield tested the #7 Dodge for Ultra Motorsports last week at the 1.5-mile speedway. Jimmy Spencer, who drives Smith's #7 Winston Cup Dodge Intrepid, was scheduled to drive, but soreness in his ribs from a hard crash at Richmond International Raceway two weeks ago prevented him from testing the truck last week. Mayfield will be driving the #7 American Tire Distributors Dodge, the third truck in an elite lineup of Ultra Motorsports entries. Friday night's Hardee's 200 is slated to start at 8:30pm/et and will be televised live on SPEED.(Golin Harris PR)(5-12-2003)
Penske Engine in the #19? UPDATE: Hearing that the #19 Dodge that Jeremy Mayfield won the pole with at Talladega had a Penske engine in it, not one from Evernham Motorsports.(4-4-2003) UPDATE: Give some credit to Penske-Jasper horsepower for Jeremy Mayfield's pole-winning run Friday. Dodge car owners Roger Penske and Ray Evernham have teamed up to improve their efforts at Daytona and Talladega. Evernham gets engine help for Mayfield and Bill Elliott, and Penske gets aerodynamic assistance for Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace. The cooperation worked in qualifying, when Penske's engines helped Mayfield take the pole for Sunday's race while Elliott qualified fifth. Newman was eighth for Penske, but Wallace was 31st. "We both struggled in qualifying at Daytona so we teamed up to work on our restrictor plate program," Evernham said. "We don't have a name for it, just a group of people from both shops who built engines for this race." Like Penske, Evernham builds his own engines. But as a third-year program, his motors lag behind and have been a weakness in the operation - Elliott blew his engine while leading the race at Texas last weekend. "Our motor program is good for a a three-year program," Evernham said. "But we need access to better technology and Roger has access to the experience and technology we need."(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(4-5-2003)
News to Gaughan: the rumor I had posted yesterday and the past few days; 'Evernham Changes' with a mention of CTS driver Brendan Gaughan as a possible driver for on of Evernham's three cars, brought this response from Gaughan: "I want to go to Winston Cup, we know that," Gaughan said. "But I don't ever want to hope that someone does bad. I'm rooting for all the other Dodge drivers. Right now I'm just worried about getting our team through this Craftsman Truck Series season. We're third in points -- two points out of second -- and that's right where we want to be at this point. I haven't heard anything about the rumor, but it's cool my name's out there. That's a bonus." ...(Las Vegas Review Journal)(3-28-2003)
Evernham Changes? UPDATE 3: hearing some crew changes have occurred on the #9 and #19 Evernham Motorsports teams with the rear tire changers/carriers switching. Hearing there could be other changes coming, including Crew Chief (even though they do not use a 'crew chief' but a CART crew formula), Supposedly #19 Dodge driver, Jermey Mayfield is under some pressure to perform better or a change could be made there.(3-21-2003) UPDATE: been told by sources that the rear tire changers/carriers have switched teams. Also some sources say that Brendan Gaughan's [#62 in the Truck Series[ name hass come up as an option for Evernham Motorsports if changes are made or they choose to run the third R&D car [#91 Dodge](3-22-2003) UPDATE 2: Ray Evernham's teams are among the organizations that are struggling to get up to speed this season, so he's experimenting with the structure of his pit crews. Last week, the rear tire changer/carrier duo of Shane Russellberg and Bob Dowens on Bill Elliott's #9 Dodge swapped spots with Joe Singerland and Eric Wakeland on Jeremy Mayfield's #19. "I've got really good people," Evernham says. "I'm just trying to get them moved around and into the right place. We just hope that the chemistry will be better in areas we were weak." Evernham says those crew members will maintain their regular roles in the shop during the week. Elliott finished 18th and Mayfield 23rd at Bristol.(Sporting News)(3-24-2003) UPDATE 3: Ray Evernham is not satisfied with Jermey Mayfield's results so far, however that doesn't mean he is about to replace Mayfield or drastically revamp his crew. "I'm extremely happy with the team," Evernham said. "There's no crew chief changes, no driver changes - there's none of that coming. The only thing that's got to change is our performance." The only driver opening at this point will be when Evernham needs one for the third car he will enter in select races [was #91 in 2002]. The car was going to run at Talladega with Hank Parker Jr., but those plans have been put on hold. Parker helps the team with testing.(Winston Cup Scene - Subscription Required to read online)(3-26-2003)
Gordons' divorce costly and aggravating, Evernham says: Car owner Ray Evernham said his fight to keep his records away from lawyers for Brooke Gordon has already cost him $18,000 - and climbing. The fact that Jeff Gordon's divorce is costing him money doesn't make Evernham real happy. "It's cost me a lot of time and a lot of money and the bottom line is this is between Jeff and Brooke and I don't want to get in the middle of it," Evernham said. Evernham was Gordon's crew chief when the driver won three of his four Winston Cup titles and was also the best man at his wedding to the former Miss Winston model. Brooke Gordon filed for divorce last year and her lawyers have asked to see records from most Winston Cup teams to evaluate Gordon's worth and potential earnings.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(3-22-2003)
Special Elliott/Mayfield schemes? UPDATE 3: hear there will be some sort of special #9-Bill Elliott and #19-Jermey Mayfield schemes, some sort of special Dodge program, but not sure what or where yet.(2-20-2003) UPDATE: hearing it could be a Simpson's (TV Show and Jayski Fave) scheme, not sure what for or when.(2-22-2003) UPDATE 2: not the Simpsons, but a promotion scheme for the movie, "2 Fast 2 Furious".(2-28-2003) UPDATE 3: been told that the Mayfield/Elliott "2 Fast 2 Furious" diecast program has been canceled by Action and that it probably also means they will not run the promotion on the #
