Jeremy Mayfield has yet to score a top-10 finish in the Nextel Cup Series this season. Credit: Autostock

Mayfield frustrated by Evernham's absence

Struggling No. 19 team qualified 16th on Friday at Chicago

JOLIET, Ill. -- Jeremy Mayfield is reminded of how good his team can be on days like Friday, when he qualified 16th for Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway.

But, for the most part, he's been frustrated.

Credit: Autostock

Inside the Numbers Jeremy Mayfield in 2006 Race Start Finish Status Daytona 26 36 running California 21 22 running Las Vegas 24 25 running Atlanta 20 41 running Bristol 10 16 running Martinsville 23 26 engine Texas 34 31 running Phoenix 28 26 running Talladega 36 13 running Richmond 38 32 running Darlington 30 38 running Charlotte 2 15 running Dover 2 18 running Pocono 26 23 running Michigan 18 36 running Sonoma 32 22 running Daytona 42 36 running Average 24.2 26.8

Frustrated that he's 32nd in points after making the Championship Chase the past two seasons.

Frustrated that team owner Ray Evernham hasn't been around to help turn things around.

Frustrated to the point he didn't rule out going to another organization next season.

"I haven't talked to Ray much,'' Mayfield told reporters behind his hauler before qualifying. "We don't see Ray much. I don't know. He encourages us when he is around, but we haven't seen him much lately.''

Evernham was in Kentucky on Friday with his Truck Series team and developmental driver Erin Crocker. He was with the Truck Series team the week before at Kansas instead of at Daytona for Saturday night's Nextel Cup race, where Mayfield finished 36th.

"[Ray] wasn't there all weekend,'' Mayfield said. "I saw him Sunday morning when we did a deal in Indy for F1 and stuff. I seen him there for a few minutes, but he didn't say a whole lot.

"He wasn't at Sears Point, either. ... I don't think he is here today.''

Evernham plans to be in Chicago on Sunday. According to a team spokesman, he's given up much of his day-to-day duties to competition director Sammy Johns as the organization has grown from 200 employees with two Cup cars to 400 employees with three Cup teams, a Truck team and Busch Series team.

Mayfield said it's still not like Evernham, who has a reputation for being hands on, not to be more involved.

"He used to be on top of stuff like this pretty hot and heavy and he's letting it take its course, I guess,'' Mayfield said. "I don't know what else to say. I'm being honest with you.''

Mayfield, who has one year remaining on his contract and a two-year option after that, said he hasn't talked about his future with Evernham amid speculation he could be headed to Toyota.

"I've been busy a lot,'' Mayfield said. "He's been busy. I go to the shop every Tuesday that I'm home, and I haven't been home in a while on a Tuesday. I was there a week and a half ago and he wasn't there.''

Mayfield said Johns and crew chief Chris Andrews have done their best to turn the team around.

"Everybody is frustrated,'' he said. "You're going to be that way until you turn it around. The thing about it is you've got to keep working to the same goal and just keep trying to dig yourself out of it until you get out of the hole.''

Mayfield was the only Evernham driver to qualify for the Chase the past two seasons. During the offseason, crew chief Kenny Francis and the rest of his crew were moved to Kasey Kahne's car.

Kahne is fourth in points with a series-high four wins. Scott Riggs, who joined Evernham Motorsports during the offseason, is 23rd despite missing the opener at Daytona.

A year ago, Mayfield was 11th heading into this race and ninth after a sixth-place finish. The year before he was 12th before finishing fifth to move to 11th.

"How can you be happy where we're running?'' Mayfield said. "I'm a racer. I want to win. I want to run up front. I want to be competitive. It's not working right now. The chemistry is not there. Yes, we are trying to get better and working hard at it.

"Things have not progressed like we thought they were going to, but that doesn't mean we're going to fall over and give up and go home.''