More Mayfield UPDATE 4 #7? at the Rock? Evernham NO to a 3rd team: Jeremy Mayfield expects to make his plans known within two weeks. Contrary to rumors that have been running wild, Mayfield has spent the past few weeks at his Mooresville home, according to a spokesman who has been in contact with Mayfield on a daily basis. A quick resolution of Mayfields status would logically indicate a deal that would put him in a Dodge for 2002, either a third Intrepid fielded by Ray Evernham or another car that would receive additional assistance from Evernham. Possible slots for Mayfield might include the #92 currently being driven by Stacy Compton or the #7, currently a Ford but expected to switch to Dodge in 2002.(Gaston Gazette)(10-20-2001) UPDATE: Jeremy Mayfield has not been in the garage since parting ways with the Roger Penske-owned team at the end of September but is quietly working on a deal. Mayfield should have an announcement in the next couple of weeks. He’s expected to sign with the Jim Smith-owned team and the group transfer to Dodges, with Ray Evernham offering guidance to the program.(Richmond Times Dispatch) AND #7 team owner, Jimmy Smith, still is searching for a sponsor to continue his Winston Cup operation, which is expected to race Dodges in the future.(Sporting News)(10-22-2001) UPDATE 2: Jim Smith, however, has said he plans to switch to Intrepids for 2002. And at Talladega, Smith didn’t deny he may be working on a deal to land Mayfield, one that may see him give up at least partial ownership in his team, most likely to Evernham. “There’s a lot of stuff going on, but it’s all just hearsay right now,” Smith said Oct. 20. “I’m talking with everybody. … There’s some talk, there’s some stuff (out there) and if it happens, it will be great. If it doesn’t, we’ll do the best we can.” Smith said any talks he’s engaged in are in the ‘What if?’ stage and aren’t worth commenting on. He talked with Mayfield about taking over his Ultra Motorsports Ford following his departure from Penske Racing, but Mayfield opted to take some time off. There’s now speculation Mayfield could return to the circuit at Rockingham, possibly with Smith’s team.(Winston Cup Scene – need sub to read)(10-25-2001) UPDATE 3: hearing that Evernham went to Dodge and asked for more money for a third team for Mayfield and Dodge said NO, that they have and only want 10 Factory teams. No idea how this would effect the #7 team move to Dodge(10-26-2001) UPDATE 4: Car owner [#9, #19] Ray Evernham said he’s talked with #7 car owner Jim Smith about the possibility of working together next season. Smith’s team, Ultra Motorsports, runs Fords but could switch to Dodge, which are used by Evernham’s two-car team with drivers Casey Atwood and Bill Elliott. “With the one-engine rule if I’m going to keep going, I’ve got to look at taking on another engine program to at least stay competitive and I have talked to Jim Smith, and I don’t know what he’s doing as far as Dodge is concerned,” Evernham said. “I don’t want to do a third Winston Cup team and will not do a third Winston Cup team, but if I can find a good technology partner to offset the costs of some of the development we have to do, I would be interested in doing that.”(Roanoke Times) AND Jayski NOTES: The #7 has been planning to switch over to Dodge all season, and Dodge has encouraged it because of the truck teams of Jim Smith [#1 and #2]. Plus, there are serious questions regarding whether or not the #92 team will be back next season (but owner Mark Melling said the team will run in 2002). Heard Dodge is planning support in sheet metal, engines, parts and pieces, and is helping find additional sponsorship to Nations Rent – which has another year on its contract.(McDonald’s?)(10-28-2001) (10-27-2001)
