Jeremy Mayfield Out At Watkins Glen, Ray Evernham Show His True Colors

Ray Evernham was one of the best crew chiefs, but his team ownership skills leaves a lot to be desired.

After weeks of rumors and gossip, Ray Evernham will replace Jeremy Mayfield at Watkins Glen with 1988 champion Bill Elliott. Elliott is guaranteed a spot in the field of 43 by virtue of the Champion's provisional.

This move appears to be a protection for the floundering #19 team as they have fallen out of the top 35 in NASCAR Nextel Cup owners points. But I don't buy into it.

If Mayfield would have restrained from speaking out against his team at Chicagoland last month, would Evernham have made this decision? Unlikely. Evernham was called out by his driver, and he obviously didn't like it.

Why does this keep happening to the Owensboro, Kentucky native? He seems like a really down to earth guy? Mayfield states the obvious. When he spoke out against Evernham, he did what most drivers would not have done. He did what Elliott Sadler, Dale Jarrett, and Brian Vickers would not dare.

Mayfield's personality usually rather serene, but if you get him riled up, he isn't afraid to speak his mind. Apparently, tension had been building up throughout the season between Mayfield and Evernham. In 2001, a similar situation occurred with Penske Racing. A week later, Mayfield was relieved of his duties.

Evernham has a track record of pulling the carpet out from under people. In 1999, less than a year removed from one of the best seasons in NASCAR history compiled by himself and Jeff Gordon, Evernham bolted the #24 group to resurrect Dodge Motorsports. We see how that has worked out as his operation has underachieved ever since it's debut in 2001.

He signed the young Casey Atwood for 2001, and after just one sub par season, Atwood was replaced, ironically by Jeremy Mayfield. Atwood struggled, but in all fairness, he was 21 years old, driving for a brand new team with a brand new manufacturer. By season's end, Atwood and the #19 team had found some chemistry as he won a pole and nearly won two of the final three races of the 2001 season. Atwood has yet to recover.

Last off-season, Evernham removed the team that Mayfield had qualified for the Chase for the Championship with in 2004 and 2005. That top ten team was transferred over to Evernham's golden boy Kasey Kahne, while Mayfield was stuck with the R&D effort.

And now, Mayfield will watch the Nextel Cup race at Watkins Glen from his home. "It's not professional, that's for sure,' said Mayfield about Evernham's decision to replace him, without any prior notification.

Mayfield is expected to turn over a new leaf at Bill Davis Racing next season, and wave goodbye to his second-rate status at EMS. Good riddance Evernham!

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