Mayfield's Map: Charlotte

Each week throughout the season, Jeremy Mayfield and his wife, Shana, share their memories of that weekend's racetrack -- and the happenings around it.

This week: The UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway

Q: Since we're racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway this weekend, right close to home, do you feel it's feasible to build a landing strip on your new property -- or at least a helicopter pad to get out of there more easily?

	Shana and Jeremy Mayfield
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Shana Mayfield: You know, we've actually thought about that, because that was when we bought the new place, all the land was out there and Jeremy was like, 'Man, we could get a landing strip.'

But I feel better when we land at an airport that's capable of getting us through fog and that maybe has air traffic control (laughing). I feel a lot safer that way.

But you could definitely do a helicopter pad out there. And actually, we just got a phone call and Jeremy's doing an appearance tonight and Ted is picking Jeremy up in our back yard, so actually where we're at right now has got enough room for a helicopter pad, if we needed one.

Jeremy Mayfield: It's pretty cool when they land in your back yard.

Shana Mayfield: We usually do that for the Charlotte race, too. The people will come and pick us up and take us to the racetrack from our back yard.

Q: But you know, when you're talking about a landing strip on your land that might take some parking space from Curtisville Speedway, now wouldn't it?

Shana Mayfield: It's on the other side of the land, so it would be fine.

Jeremy Mayfield: what I thought about doing was having a landing strip, then you'd come off the landing strip and that would be the frontstretch. Then you'd turn through 1 and 2 and go down the backstretch and through 3 and 4.

Shana Mayfield: You could have, like a road course and you'd be a veteran.

Jeremy Mayfield: Actually, it'd look like a killer damn runway if you were up in the air, because it would look like an airport -- with access roads like you taxi off on and turn and stuff like that, you know?

Shana Mayfield: We'd have our own Spruce Creek Fly-In here at Catawba (County).

Jeremy Mayfield: Yeah, really -- with an oval track -- Curtisville Speedway.

Q: As long as you didn't rut it up too much.

Jeremy Mayfield: Well, I mean, we would pave one side of it and dirt the other side -- that's how NASCAR got started, on the beach/road course in Daytona Beach.

Shana Mayfield: Exactly. We'd run over the Catawba, or whatever they have over there.

Q: How much irony do you find, given with how easy it is to get out of Lowe's that they now have a new four-lane highway named after Bruton Smith at Atlanta Motor Speedway?

Jeremy Mayfield: Well, I feel pretty good, because the four-lane they built for us out here they don't use, so I'm sure they're not going to use that one, wouldn't you think?

Shana Mayfield: And then, the only thing with Atlanta doing that is that it does us no good because we fly right into there -- into Tara Field behind the racetrack.

So, it does us no good, but maybe it helps the fans. But here, it's like there's an Interstate highway and all these back roads and you can't use any of them.

Jeremy Mayfield: I'll tell you what, I've thought about that a lot, the race fans, and when they leave there, and especially when they're not familiar with the area, and they send you the wrong way every time.

Well, you've got to go a long way out of your way to turn around and come back to where you need to go -- and I just wonder how many race fans get tired of that and really, probably some of them don't even come back because of it.

Inside the Chase Point standings after Kansas Pos. Driver Pts. Behind 1. T. Stewart 5,684 -- 2. R. Newman 5,609 -75 3. G. Biffle 5,596 -88 4. R. Wallace 5,594 -90 5. J. Johnson 5,592 -92 6. C. Edwards 5,589 -95 7. M. Martin 5,571 -113 8. M. Kenseth 5,568 -116 9. J. Mayfield 5,527 -157 10. Ku. Busch 5,460 -224 • Nextel Cup standings, click here

Shana Mayfield: It should be a lot easier, but you know, the logistics of getting that many people into and out of a racetrack, we don't really know everything going on.

Jeremy Mayfield: That's true.

Shana Mayfield: It could be a lot more than what we know.

Jeremy Mayfield: Right. But what we do know is that they've got a brand new road coming in there that you can't use (laughing). We do know that.

Shana Mayfield: Yeah.

Jeremy Mayfield: And one other thing we do know -- they do send you the wrong way, that's for sure.

Q: You know; Atlanta used to have a pretty well deserved bad rap about traffic. You think they'll let people go the right way, there or will they send 'em on a world tour of rural Georgia?

Shana Mayfield: Of course not.

Jeremy Mayfield: I'll tell you what -- I'm going to give the race fans some advice.

If you want to get away from either one of those racetracks -- go the way that you're not supposed to go, when you're leaving. Like, wherever you came in, or wherever you're parked at -- go out the opposite way.

Then, maybe they'll send you in the direction that you really want to go in, when you leave.

It's kind of like going the wrong way to get to the right place.

Q: They haven't contacted you about any traffic tips for Lowe's, have they?

Jeremy Mayfield: No. We've just got to where we know all the back roads and we just sneak right in there.

But I just feel sorry for all the fans that have to come in and out of there, you know?

Shana Mayfield: We feel sorry for them, but they enjoy it. This is a once a year thing for them and they don't have anything else to do -- they're just taking it all in.

They have a good time and I don't think it's as big of an issue to the fans as it is for us that do the grind every week. That's what makes it hard -- you're home but you don't have a lot of time.

Jeremy Mayfield: Now, be a little bit political, here.

Shana Mayfield: I know, but I'm just saying that these people take a whole week off for this stuff and I don't think it's that big of an issue for the fans.

Jeremy Mayfield: They just sit around and hang out.

Shana Mayfield: They go to the souvenir trailers, which helps us and helps NASCAR.

Jeremy Mayfield: It boosts sales, which helps the sport grow.

Shana Mayfield: So, anybody who's sitting out there in traffic, just turn into the 19 trailer and Chris and Kristy will hook you up with something nice.

Jeremy Mayfield: Matter of fact, I think they've got a sale this weekend -- on hats.

Shana Mayfield: Which hats -- Chase hats?

Jeremy Mayfield: Any of them -- just go in there and tell 'em I sent yah.

Q: Lowe's is always a good place for announcements -- so if you guys had your druthers, what would you like to see announced this weekend at Lowe's? Shana?

Shana Mayfield: I'd like to see them announce that they're inverting the points field for the Chase -- like they invert the running order in the all-star race -- the Nextel All-Star Challenge?

Jeremy Mayfield: Yeah -- that's a good idea (laughing).

Shana Mayfield: Let's change it around, since we're halfway through, and invert the points field so that Kurt (Busch) would be first and Jeremy would be second -- like that -- with (Tony) Stewart 10th.

Then we could see how we do and if we could make a comeback. I think that would be a cool idea.

Jeremy Mayfield: We'd see if the 20 car (Stewart) could dig their way out of a hole.

Shana Mayfield: Yeah.

Q: Yeah, but with the way Kurt ran last year, when he won the championship that might be all that he needs?

Shana Mayfield: Well, it might be all we need, too.

Jeremy Mayfield: Right. You never know.

Shana Mayfield: I mean, we've just had bad luck and things that are out of Jeremy's control, and so you know, sometimes maybe you just need to change it up a little bit.

But that's what I'd like to see announced.

Jeremy Mayfield: That's a good idea.

Q: Well, Jeremy? What would you like to see announced?

Shana Mayfield: I'm sure my idea's pretty far-fetched (laughing). But it would be a pretty fun idea to announce.

Jeremy Mayfield: What would I like to see announced? Man! Wait, I know what I'd like to see announced.

I'd like to see NASCAR announce they're going to give us two inches back on the rear spoiler. That'd be cool.

Q: Really?

Jeremy Mayfield: Yeah, and then Goodyear is going to come back with a tire to match the downforce package that they give us with the taller spoiler.

Q: What would they have to run, bricks, to keep them from getting burned off?

Jeremy Mayfield: No, we'd just be right back to where we were, two years ago -- you know what I mean?

Q: What do you think the feeling, across the board in the garage area, would be?

Jeremy Mayfield: I'd say if you had a vote, and you said, 'Guys, here's your vote -- do you want an inch or two back on the spoiler, do you want them where they're at, or do you want to take an inch or two more off?'

I think everybody would want to add to the spoiler.

Inside the Numbers Jeremy Mayfield at Charlotte Year Start Finish Result 1993 30 29 running 1994 19 21 running   32 20 running 1995 42 22 running   11 29 running 1996 24 41 trans   3 43 crash 1997 35 28 running   39 27 running 1998 12 19 running   9 25 running 1999 9 10 running   20 6 running 2000 4 6 running   10 2 running 2001 34 10 running 2002 27 39 crash   25 28 running 2003 22 43 crash   32 12 running 2004 15 8 running   13 30 crash 2005 36 4 running Averages 21.9 21.8

Shana Mayfield: And I want to put in there for my idea -- that I'm not trying to take anything away from the 20 or the 16 (Greg Biffle) or the 12 (Ryan Newman) or anything like that.

Jeremy Mayfield: She was just being funny.

Shana Mayfield: Just being funny, because that would be my dream -- because they've been strong race teams and I'm not taking away from them. I'm just being selfish and I'd like to get us up top, somehow.

But you know what? We're not out of it -- 157 points is nothing. Jimmie Johnson came from 200-something out at this time last year and he came back to finish second, so we're still in it, by far.

Jeremy Mayfield: Right. If we were 600 points out, I'd say we were finished, but we're not out of it. It ain't over by a long shot.

Shana Mayfield: We're getting ready to pull a Mayfield. You know how everybody said at Richmond; they were pulling a Mayfield, by winning to qualify for the Chase?

We're going to pull a Mayfield the next couple of races.

Jeremy Mayfield: We're fixing to break bad on them.

Q: Well, I'll tell you what one guy would say about your idea, Jeremy. Rusty Wallace would say 'I don't give a damn because I'm not coming back anyway.'

Jeremy Mayfield: Right.

Shana Mayfield: Well, that's being selfish, isn't it?

Q: Shana, you're on your home turf in Charlotte -- and God knows with the Chase, you haven't been there much -- so what if anything have you organized for this weekend?

Shana Mayfield: What have I organized? Actually, Friday morning I am going to the spa with Jai Riggs and Jody Wimmer and a couple other girls because Jai is having another baby and she wanted to go to the spa instead of having a baby shower.

DeLana (Harvick) was supposed to join us, but since her dad (former Busch Series racer John Linville) is sick, she's not coming, so we're going to miss her. But that will be our fun thing that I'm going to put together and hang with the girls a little bit.

Jeremy Mayfield: I think Scott's going to come and get his nails done (laughing).

Shana Mayfield: Other than that, I really just kind of take it easy and get caught up on stuff that I don't get a chance to do -- like, I need to straighten my closet up again and clean it out and take some stuff to Take 2 to be consigned and just work on the house a little bit because it's hopefully getting ready to sell.

It's just mundane things that I need to get caught up on -- nothing exciting going on.

Q: And Jeremy, what's the No. 1 thing at the top of your list that you get to do when you're home for an extended period like this?

Jeremy Mayfield: Man!

Shana Mayfield: He's racing cars and going fishing.

Jeremy Mayfield: And I get to drive my Dodge SRT-10. Man, that thing is cool.

Shana Mayfield: And the new Dodge Charger.

Jeremy Mayfield: Oh yeah -- I got a new Dodge Charger. Brand new, man.

Q: The fringe benefits of being a factory shoe are great, aren't they?

Jeremy Mayfield: Yes, I like driving my Dodge around, because there's nothing better than driving a Dodge.

Q: I had an opportunity to drive an SRT-10 and I see what you mean.

Jeremy Mayfield: It's awesome, isn't it? There is not anything out there on the road like it.

I had a Ford Lightning when I drove for Ford -- but I had my Viper when I drove for Ford, which is a Dodge, also. But since I got my SRT-10 that's all I'll ever drive.

It's awesome -- the best truck out there.

Shana Mayfield: And it's funny, because if he has a bad run, we'll come home and he'll just do doughnuts in the front yard, in the grass, just to release his frustration.

The SRT-10 is good for doughnuts.

Jeremy Mayfield: Right, and if you had a camera on me -- you know those Nextel commercials, 'How bad have you got it?'

Shana Mayfield: Yeah (laughing) -- he's the guy doing doughnuts in the cul de sac.

Jeremy Mayfield: And he just keeps on doing and slips off into the grass and just keeps tearing the infield up.

Q: It's a good thing you're out in the country -- it doesn't much matter what your front yard looks like, right?

Shana Mayfield: Yeah, but you should see the black marks going up and down our driveway, because he just lights 'em up when he's mad.

Jeremy Mayfield: You can tell when we've had a bad weekend, because it looks like a dragstrip.

Q: Well heck, that SRT-10 is just a Viper with a pickup truck body on it.

Jeremy Mayfield: No kidding. It's super fast.

Shana Mayfield: Lately, we've had a lot of black streaks running up and down our driveway.

Jeremy Mayfield: And the sad thing about it is, there's not another pickup out there that will run with it. That's the sad thing.

Q: That's a good thing if you're a Dodge man, isn't it?

Jeremy Mayfield: Exactly (laughing).

Q: Shana, I shouldn't bring this up, but when you left the pit box at Kansas I think Jeremy was running in the top-five -- and then he finished back in 16th, so you plan on staying up there until the end Saturday night?

Shana Mayfield: Oh, I don't want to hear this. I think what I'm going to do -- how do they carry the pit carts, Jeremy?

Jeremy Mayfield: They put them on the wheel truck, which carries the wheels and tires away after each race.

Shana Mayfield: I think I'm just going to pack my bags first and then just plant my butt on the seat of that pit box for the next six races and just ride home in the wheel truck -- and just not get off the box.

I'd like to think falling back a little bit, there, wasn't my doing but maybe if I'd have been up there, things would have been a little bit different.

But, you know, I can't do it all.

Jeremy Mayfield: She's busy, you know?

Shana Mayfield: No, I'm just saying that ...

Jeremy Mayfield: If you can't do it all, you can't do it all.

Shana Mayfield: I can't do everything and I don't know if me being up there would have changed him finishing 16th or not.

But for my satisfaction I'm going to stay up there the whole time -- this weekend, next weekend and every weekend after that.

Q: Do the dogs fight about who's going to Lowe's -- or do they know what they're faced with and they just want to hang at the ranch?

Shana Mayfield: Yeah, they just like hanging here -- they don't like fighting that crowd. They get out there and there's nowhere to poop and pee. It's all concrete and their little paws get hot.

All the people want their autographs -- 'Oh, Izzy, and Mattie.' Izzy is just tired of being a superstar, she said.

Jeremy Mayfield: She just kind of wants to go back to being her old self, again.

Shana Mayfield: Yeah, she's who she says she is.

Jeremy Mayfield: She says, 'I am whoever you say I am.'

Shana Mayfield: How's that go?

Jeremy Mayfield: If I wasn't, why would I say I am?

Shana Mayfield: In the paper, in the news, every day I am.

Jeremy Mayfield: That's what she says -- like Eminem's song? 'The way I am?' You heard that? I don't know -- that's just the way she is (laughing).

Q: And as far as Zoë goes, you don't want her to get off on the wrong path like her sisters, right?

Jeremy Mayfield: Exactly.

Shana Mayfield: Zoë's been bad lately anyway -- she's on restriction. She's in the dog room for a while.

Jeremy Mayfield: Zoë's got ADD-double-H-D.

Shana Mayfield: That is the most hyper dog I've ever seen.

WORD ASSOCIATION

Traffic
• Jeremy Mayfield: Really? Helicopter.
• Shana Mayfield: Part of it.

Grinding
• Jeremy Mayfield: Not sure why.
• Shana Mayfield: Your teeth.

Hometown
• Jeremy Mayfield: H-E-R-O.
• Shana Mayfield: Convenient.