Jeremy Mayfield has just one top-10 finish in 2003. Credit: Autostock
By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive
May 20, 2003
1:28 PM EDT (1728 GMT)
STATESVILLE, N.C. -- Evernham Motorsports owner Ray Evernham debunked rumors Tuesday of Jeremy Mayfield's demise and also spoke of the futures of Bill Elliott and Casey Atwood.
Mayfield, who is in his second season driving the No. 19 Dodge for Evernham, has been the subject of the media rumor mill based on his lackluster results this season.
Despite a 2002 season in which Mayfield finished 26th in the standings with two top-fives, four top-10s and seven DNFs, Evernham said he was unquestionably standing behind his driver.
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"Jeremy Mayfield is in the 19 -- there's no question about his future," Evernham said. "We're working as hard as we can work to get that 19 car back to the front (and) they're probably closer than you think.
"It's not an easy sport (but) as long as we keep communicating and holding hands and digging hard, that's all that we can do."
Evernham cited the simple newness of his program, which is in its third season, as the main source of its difficulties, some of which he ascribed to horsepower and aerodynamic balance.
The team owner has been disappointed by an overall lack of results. This season, in 22 starts between the two cars they have one top-five and three top-10s, with Elliott 19th in the standings and Mayfield, 30th.
Elliott, 47, suffered three broken bones in the top of his left foot in a crash last Saturday night in The Winston all-star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He will not miss this weekend's Coca-Cola 600, Evernham said Tuesday, and will be driving his No. 9 Dodge well into the future.
"Bill is under contract through 2005, and he knows that No. 9 car is his as long as he wants to drive it," Evernham said. "He has said he'll give us plenty of notice if he decides he wants to do anything else."
Atwood, 22, was displaced when Mayfield was hired to drive the No. 19 car beginning last year. In 2002, Atwood drove the No. 7 Dodge for Evernham/Ultra Motorsports, but he was released near the end of the season.
He remains under contract to Evernham, though he's been given his release to seek other opportunities. Evernham will field a No. 91 Dodge at Pocono next month for Atwood, and has said he would like to do more races with that car.
"We're still working with Casey Atwood," Evernham said. "There's a chance he might be back in one of the red cars some time in the future."
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