Evernham looking for improvement in the #7 team: Ray Evernham, co-owner of the Ultra/Evernham Motorsports’ #7 Sirius Satellite Dodge with driver Casey Atwood, said Saturday the team will need to improve its performance over the final eight races of the season or more changes will need to be made, perhaps even the driver. “I’ve tried everything I can try. Obviously, we’re not performing,” Evernham said. “We have sponsor pressures again. (Co-owner) Jim Smith and I have spent a lot of money. I know our engines aren’t the greatest but our other cars are running decent with them. I can’t put my finger on it. At some point in the race, (the car) always going as fast as everybody else’s but by then it’s too late.” Atwood, 21, is 33rd in series points with no top-10 finishes this season. His best finish was 11th at the June race at Pocono. Since then, he has finished in the top-20 on two occasions, most recently 18th at Bristol, Tenn., last month. “Casey is aware we need to pick the performance up. Casey is aware that the goal is for him to improve and be in Winston Cup and possibly come back (to Evernham’s teams) when Bill (Elliott) decides to retire,” Evernham said. “But he is also under the understanding that he has to perform.” Atwood’s performance has fueled speculation he may return to the BGN, perhaps even his former team Brewco Motorsports, which is still searching for a driver next season. Evernham said he and Smith plan to watch Atwood’s performance closely. “We need to pick the performance up on that car and if it does, than our plans stay the same as they were,” Evernham said. “I don’t have an alternate plan ready, I’m still waiting for that program to take off.”(ThatsRacin.com)(9-29-2002)
