Evernham Motorsports announces new team structure for 2006
KaseyKahne.com
Posted: 11 minutes ago

STATESVILLE, N.C. - Team to Implement Changes for Final Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway

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.

"We set out upon the 2005 season with high expectations and very clear goals of what we wanted to accomplish," said Evernham. "We did achieve Kasey Kahne's first win, Jeremy's win at Michigan and getting Jeremy into the Chase for the Championship for the second year in a row. We launched our Busch program and brought home one win and two poles. But unfortunately we have had a poor fourth quarter for the second year in a row -- and the fourth quarter is when the Nextel Cup is won. We are not satisfied with our performance, and will not settle for another year like this one. This is not good enough for our organization. We are in this to win the Championship."

Evernham designed the new team structure with an eye toward the future and the continued evolution of the sport.

"This new structure does away with the traditional model of the crew chief as the primary decision-maker for the team, instead sharing these responsibilities among the team leadership," noted Evernham. "The job of the crew chief has certainly changed since I held that position. Today, the job of the crew chief is almost too big for one person. When you consider the growing responsibilities of managing the big picture for the team, overseeing all of the details for each race weekend, guiding all of the people and still having time to focus on the competition, it's a challenge. That's why we are creating a leadership team for each of our race teams with a Team Director, Car Director and Engineer."


New Team Structure Realigns Drivers and Crews
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 No. 91 Evernham Dodge Charger today will move to the No. 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. This will allow Chris Andrews to build a team that meets the standards of Evernham Motorsports and has the endurance and momentum to finish strong on the season.

The No. 19 team will shift to the No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger, which Kasey Kahne will continue to drive. Kenny Francis will be the Team Director for the No. 9 team, Mike Shiplett will be the Car Director and Keith Rodden will be the Engineer. This puts the most consistent team and stable environment with Kasey Kahne, giving him the support he needs for a solid season in 2006.

The No. 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.
"Just like major corporations move their leadership teams into new assignments every 12 to 24 months to expand their experience and collectively build the organization, we want to share our Group IQ to increase our performance and success," said Evernham. "The No. 19 team is our most stable, consistent team and I want to share that foundation with the No. 9 and Kasey Kahne. I feel like he needs that additional support to be successful. The No. 9 currently has a number of guys who have been with Evernham Motorsports since we opened the doors, and we want them to share that knowledge and history with the No. 10 as our newest team. And the No. 91 team has been built by Chris Andrews, so it makes sense that he continues to lead and grow this team with his new responsibilities on the No. 19."

"I think this is going to be good for our long term success," said Mayfield. "Chris Andrews is a great leader and Tim Malinovsky has great understanding of how we can improve the performance of this car. We've proven we have what it takes to get into the Chase, now we just need the horsepower for next year to keep the momentum going once we get in."

Kasey Kahne supported his teammate's opinion.

"I've really learned a lot from Tommy -- it has been good learning from him over the last two years," said Kahne. "We've become great friends. I've developed a close relationship with him and look forward to continuing to be very good friends. I'm excited that he's going to be able to go after his long-term goals.

"We're looking forward to next season and coming back with a strong car, a strong team and some strong performances," Kahne added. "I look forward to working with the new team structure and getting started with Kenny Francis and Mike Shiplett. We're ready to compete for a spot in the 2006 Chase for the Championship."

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 No. 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.

I like that. Hes keeping positive. We're going to kick some major ass next year!

I'm glad to see Kasey so positive about next season and again I wish Tommy all the luck in the world.

kudos to Ray for trying something different........I hope it works.

I'm kinda sad about our 9 boys not being there, but I look forward to having the 19 crew guys working the 9 car. I wish Jim was staying though, I think he and Kasey were really good together.

Glad to see Kasey's comments there as well.

Good luck to Tommy! Hopefully we see him as a winning car owner in the future!

I have complete faith Tommy will be successful.......he is driven like Ray.

And I know that with the way this went down, the 9 team will be in good hands.....

just knowing there is no bad feelings or anything makes this so much easier to digest.

But we still have to have a "we miss Tommy thread'

ok this really sucks...but I'm happy for Tommy...Hopefully his dreams will come true..and YAY FOR KASEY for keeping his head held high and not giving up..That is a true Nascar Driver..Just because his year didn't go like we all wanted to he's not giving up....

:clap Good Job Kasey!

:)

I wish I was so positive all the time like Kasey.

Jersey I just spit out my drink.......Kasey positive all the time? WHAT planet are you on, LOL.........Mr. negativity must have gotten a Christy and Lisa dose of positive thoughts today

:lmao

I agree with everything that has been said.

I'm glad that there are no hard feelings, I want them to remain friends.

I'm sad to see Kasey's crew leave, but I think it's good that he'll be in the most stable enviroment

http://www.evernhammotorsports.com/main.cfm?pagename=jm_crew

There is the link to Kasey's new crew guys

Welllllllll, what I guess I meant was positive away from the track, like in his post race quotes and all that.

As for what planet I'm on, I'm not really all that sure about that. :)

hehe, I love you Jersey, almost as much as your avatar :)

Ray is the best.

The fact that he really understands all that is required of the crew chief is nothing but a bonus. He is the "father" of what we now know as the Nascar pitt crew. This change will become as important as the changes he made to the "Rainbow Warriors".

I am glad that it is was an amicable split.

Best of luck to Tommy.

I really hope that Dale Cagle stays with Jeremey or goes to Scott and Kole stays with Kasey.

I think Tommy is trying to make me get all teary eyed with that quote. :( I'll miss Tommy, but I'm glad he's pursuing what he wants to do in the future. Kasey seems really positive about the change and I'm excited to see what happens next season. :drive

~ Mary

I would kick his ass if Kole isn't with Kasey.......but spotters are more driver driven, not team so I'm sure Kole will still be there

Yeah, I agree. I don't see Kole leaving Kasey.

We could always call up Evernham and ask that one too...because I'm quite curious...and I'm rather serious. Hmm...perhaps tomorrow.

I'm sad... I think I might curl up in bed when I get home and cry...

Good luck to Tommy... I'm gonna miss him, and Kale, and Kole, and Kasey and their strange conversations...

i don't have a scanner and now i need more motivation to get one since i won't have the convos too look fwd too.

Though this will take alot of getting use too...i can try.

Good luck to tommy!

I just got done crying, and I think the tears are getting ready to come again LOL

I'm gonna miss them too...like a fat kid would miss his chocolate cake!

Good luck to Tommy!!!!

note this day -

thanks for not taking any shit when it came to our driver ala Chicagoland. thumbs up brotha!

:lmao

i heart your sig :(

dude smokey your sig is making me cry all over again

yeah, I never knew the sig would take on another meaning.

All this Switching has me in circles..But I am sure once I feel better I will undrstand.. :wacko:

Just to note:

Nascar.com's article I thought was really good. I'm sad for tommy leaving but it seems like kasey is ok with the move. He is ready for a fresh start and maybe that will be the best for him.

mos def

right back at ya.

This news sucks for EMS, but I wish the best of luck to Tommy!

:wacko: I hope Kasey gets in the chase and Tommy starting a new team, that is rad! :na

well dang
i missed a buttload of crap
kasey can drive the hell out of the car so im sure he will do great with another crew chief....... even though i really liked tommy

From Mayfield's Map:

I thought that was particularly truthful.

Nice...I Love Jeremy..

Great quote from Jeremy.

Awww Jeremy, we love you too!

Remind me not to go to Klub Kahne...I just went there, and I'm about to go apeshit!

Some quote from over there...

"For everyone out there that thinks that Kasey was happy with his former crew chief, here it is straight from the horse's mouth:

"We had a lot of potential this year, but couldn't seem to get the chemistry or communication of the team just right, and I seemed to fight the racecar all year long". Kaseykahne.com

Tommy Baldwin may be a great guy, or maybe not, but the fact is that he let down his team and didn't have clue how to dial in the #9 race car. In 2004, he had all of the notes from Bill Elliott to work from, and 2005 put him to the test to show his true expertise, which he failed miserably. Everyone kept whining about the Charger nose and making excuses. Didn't seem to be an issue for the #2,#42,#12, etc. The time to set up a race car is not during the race. That's what practice is for.

I'm glad Baldwin is gone and only wish he would have stepped down earlier. Now at least the #9 has a chance for a good finish."



"I agree with you, va9fan. From listening to the in car audio I got the feeling that Kasey and Tommy had lost trust in each other over the season. I was shocked when I heard Tommy tell Kasey in the middle of the Phoenix race that they had tried something really different with the car. I was thinking...You're just now telling Kasey this?! Ugh! If I had been Kasey, I'd been upset that I wasn't told before the race. Since Kasey didn't say anything back told me that he was upset. He tends to get quiet when he's upset and frustrated. I don't have anything bad against Tommy, but do believe that Kasey needs a crew chief that will talk to him as an equal. It really bothered me when Tommy told Kasey at the end of the race thanks for being patient and not going off on the them. Kasey didn't respond. I just the impression too many times that Tommy talked to Kasey as if he was a kid and not with the respect he deserved, but that's just my observation."



If I decide to post in that thread, I know that it won't be pretty...

And those people call themselves Kasey fans? If your a fan of Kasey you should be behind the whole team, yeah they haven't had the best season, but really none of the Dodge guys have.

That's exactly what I was thinking when I read those