Mayfield released by Evernham Motorsports
No announcement made on new driver; Elliott running at Glen
By Josh Pate, NASCAR.COM
August 11, 2006
10:44 AM EDT (14:44 GMT)

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- 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.

Now Mayfield is out of the car for good, a move that was speculated last month at Chicagoland when the driver aired concerns about how the owner had not done anything to help his struggling team.

"When the performance is not up to par, it's frustrating on both sides," Evernham said Friday. "The decision was made because of the performance of the car. There was certainly frustration, and we weren't pleased with some of the comments that were made. But in no way was that the reason for the change."

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."

I think he's better off away from Evernham. Not for Ray or Kasey or Erin's sake but for his. He deserves better.

I think it is better for everyone. He is obviously not happy so he needs to go somewhere where he can be. The rest of the team can now focus on their priorities with out this distraction.

I'm not very happy about this, but I hope Jeremy is happier with whatever direction he decides to go.

Ray... :nono

I basically have three words to say: Suck it Ray. That's probably not all I have to say on the matter, but it's all I've got for now. And just because I'm a Kasey fan doesn't mean I have to support Ray. This is a Kasey board, not an Evernham board, so don't go all crazy on me.

I cannot believe Ray I thought it was gonna end up like this but I was hoping it wouldn't that sucks for Jerm I wish him all the best he got the short end of the stick in this deal for sure

I agree with ya! I'm gonna miss seeing Shana and Jeremy every Sunday in the #19 car. I wish him the best tho and hope he gets a new ride soon!

we agree yet again

I agree. I hate it for Jeremy, it sucks that it happened this way, but no one was happy in the situation and maybe now they can all move on.

We all knew it was coming... it just sucks he couldn't finish out the season.

I've met Jeremy and he's such a nice guy. I just can't believe this is happening to him. But I tohught of something. If Jeremy is going to MWR next year, I bet Mikey is going to put him in the Burger King car and Bill can finish the season in the 19

Suck it Ray.

:lmbo

Way to get WWE on them!

This is what happens when you bite the hand that feeds you, the hand bites back. I don't feel sorry for Jeremy one bit. He took his beef public. That was the worst thing he could have done. By him doing that, it clearly showed he wanted out of EMS. He got his wish granted.

But I'm sure that Jeremy probably tried to talk to Ray before he went public.

I agree.

An owner can't fix the way a driver drives. He can fix a car, but not a driver. I'm sorry, but I put a lot of the blame for the woes for the #19 on Mayfield. He's a vetern driver. I don't buy that the car was that bad that . We know the cars need work on their set-ups. EMS on whole needs to do a better job on set-ups, but ultimately it's the driver who can make or break a car.

Ray is an accomplished crew chief and being the owner, he has the ability to jump in and not only provide input but to take hold of the ship and get his hands dirty by calling the shots. Jerm isn't the one who should carry the load of the blame for this season.

:nod I agree thats the reason it's called a "team" you can't blame it all on Jerm

My opinion: I think they both handled it badly. They both are at fault, Jeremy bit the hand that fed him as one of you said by going public, and Ray ignoring Jeremy and his team. Instead of acting mature about this, they both went about it the wrong way. Yes, Ray didn't listen, but Jeremy had a choice too, to either make it public or not, and privately, ask for a release from contract, if thats what he really wanted... I think when Jeremy called out Ray, that was the point where the ship was struck a mortal blow and was doomed. At that point, everything is permanent and things just had to play out...I think these two were very unprofessional. I like Jeremy a lot, and even though I don't agree with his actions this past month or so, I wish him and his new team (wherever it is) all the best. As for Ray, maybe something good will come out of this whole ordeal and he can learn from it. I don't like what he has done and this latest development...that was, IMO, out of anger...

I hope I didn't offend anyone with all this, I respect your opinions very much. :)

All this talk of biting the hand that feeds you is speculative. I'm sure Jerm is not the first and won't be the last to air is frustrations to the media.

The thing is... it's a "he said, he said" situation. On one hand you have Jeremy saying Ray never contacted him to tell him this and that and then you have Ray saying he did. We're never going to know the full story on what happened or didn't happen. All we can do it hope it doesn't affect the rest of the EMS teams and hope Jeremy the best where ever he ends up... IMO

:nod I agree, the biting of the hand is here-say, but so is all what Ray has or hasn't done...we will never know the full story, so thats why I think the both of them are at fault for this situation. Not just Ray or just Jeremy...

:nod I agree with the both of you.

that doesn't make it the right thing to do.

Jeremy is not stupid, he just showed poor judgement. He has been in this business a long time. He knew before he ever opened his mouth to the press what the fall out from that decision would be. When people chose to ignore what will happen and act anyway, in most cases it is because they want that outcome to occur. He just didn't count on it happening halfway thru the season. He expected to have that ride until the end of the season.

The fact of the matter is, racing is a business. In the real world, if any of us were to stand in public and say simular things about are boss we would have gotten our walking papers immediately. The only thing that kept Jeremy in that car was contractual obligations to the sponsors.

The truth is in Nascar today, money talks, that means what the sponsors want is what will happen. Last year Marlin lost his car because Coors wanted a younger driver, Marlin didn't fit their preferred demographic. Last season when Kasey wasn't performing well and rumors were abounding that Dodge wanted to cut back, there was speculation whether it was Kasey that would get a new sponsor. This year Kasey has done well and Dodge refused to drop him when UPS rumors were flying. Mark Mcfarland just lost his ride because the sponsor wants a more experienced, veteren driver. The owners don't make the decisions anymore the sponsors do. If the sponsor says we want to keep this driver we know they can turn it arround, end of discussion, Ray Evernham and all other drivers will get on their knees and kiss their ass because they need their money to keep the business going. If the sponsors say that's it the team is not progressing change it or we will put our money else where, Ray Evernham and all other owners, will get on their knees and kiss ass because they need that money.

I'm not sure what to say about this. It was completely expected with all that has happened already this season, but not in this way. I didn't think that it would get ugly, whic it seems like it has, which has ruined what seemed like a good relationship w/ Jermey and Ray. Just wish they could have figured something out in a better way them it seems to be going.

Yeah, me too...I wish it could have gone differently too.

I think you're giving way too much credit to being passive. Because your comments basically state that you would rather bend over and let "the man" stick it to you than speak your piece and stand on your own ground. Who's to say the guy didn't already know what was going to go down. Just because the public/media is made aware of rumors or news doesn't mean that it's already taken place well in advance.

I dont really know much about Mayfield. But I will wish him the best of luck with finding a new ride.

Hardly, I am being screwed by my company, however, I need my very small paycheck more than I need to get my ass fired for standing in public and saying things that I know will get me fired. I need a roof over my head and food on my table and clothes on my back, therefore my choice is to find somewhere else to go before I open my mouth. It is called self preservation and common sense.

There are other ways to handle bad situations than opening thy mouth when you already know the consequences of doing so and then complaining when those consequences actually happen.

Article Posted on Fri, Aug. 11, 2006
Evernham formalizes it:
Color Mayfield gone
By DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer

more from the color Mayfiled gone article

I seriously HATE this is ending this way.....

I like Jeremy and I don't know all the details, but come on can't they just say "hey its not working, lets just move on"

I dont even know what to say...

I really like Jeremy and Shana on one hand..and on the other, I really like Ray. I just think some bad things went wrong when he switched up the teams. Although I am very grateful because Kasey is kicking ass, I just think Jeremy got his feelings hurt. I think he thought Ray didn't really care about him but in reality I think Ray was just trying to raise both parts of his organization to the same level. I think things got out of hand starting there and when Jeremy didn't do as well with the new team he got frusturated and said some things he shouldn't have and Ray did too. I'm really surprised about the way Ray has handled this. Usually he is very professional about things. But this too shall pass.

Last thing said.

I'm really gonna miss Jeremy and Shana.

BUT..Evernham is gonna kick ass in 2007. LET'S MOVE ON!

Hehe. I agreed with your pm, and that's EXACTLY what I was thinking when I posted it. It took every ounce of self control to keep from posting it, too.

From everything that has been put out there, it would seem that they are both at fault. But, there could be more than meets the eye.

I do know that Ray isn't the same person who crew chiefed Jeff from 1993-1999.

Surprisingly, no one has brought up the the fact that this is the first time Elliott Sadler has confirmed that he's going to EMS. Forever, he's been saying he hasn't spoken to Ray/EMS and is looking at other teams. Am I mistaken? That kinda grinds my gears. I know, I know, things must be locked down before people start talking but he's been straight up playin the media like suckers when they all have known the real.

I noticed that as well. And it's all because of the contracts and associated, well, crap. So sometimes contracts mean something and other times they mean squat. Next thing you know we'll have a driver's union like in the NHL and NBA and the other pro sports.

It does suck that Sadler played the media.

So do we know for sure that Elliott is coming? Like 100%?

I wouldn't say anything is 100% with the way things have been going.

Ditto that.. but we'll find out soon.. hopefully.. since they said they have the '07 roster for EMS done