The Mayfields: Idling by

This week, the Nextel Cup Series heads to Michigan, where Jeremy Mayfield is the defending champion, but for the second consecutive week the Mayfields aren't heading to the racetrack after team owner Ray Evernham fired Jeremy.

This week: Treading water

	Jeremy and Shana Mayfield Credit: Autostock
	JEREMY MAYFIELD •   Driver Page •   2006 Stats •   Superstore: Mayfield gear •   Jeremy's official Web site

Q: A week after the fact, when you got the news from one of your employees that you were getting replaced in the No. 19 car, how's the recovery going?

Jeremy: We're doing fairly well, to be honest with you, considering the circumstances and considering everything that's gone on, since then.

We're breathing, eating, drinking water and staying hydrated -- and our dogs are doing well.

Shana Mayfield: We're loving each other.

Jeremy: But, we still miss being at the racetrack.

Shana: Yeah, the first weekend -- this past weekend, when everything was going on up at Watkins Glen, was really tough. Jeremy kept himself busy, but every few laps he'd come in and check out what was going on.

It was hard for me. I think if I knew at Indy that that was the last time I was going to see him in that 19 car, or in his 19 uniform; and the last time we'd be involved with all the Dodge people, I think I could have handled it a little better.

But I'm still a little bit in shock and kind of in mourning. It feels like a bad divorce. I've never been divorced, but I think I'm feeling some of those feelings that you'd feel.

I have a lot of all these mixed emotions. But like Jeremy has said, we're going to go on, and there's a bright future ahead of him in his profession and us together and the new house and a lot of good things.

Jeremy Mayfield finished the season in the 19 car 34th in points. Credit: Autostock

Inside the Numbers Jeremy Mayfield's 2006 stats 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 Chicago 16 24 running Loudon 37 29 running Pocono 22 37 running Indy 15 41 suspension Average 23.9 27.9

But it's just difficult for me to grasp. I'm having a hard time with it. I think Jeremy has got a lot tougher skin than I do, and he's going to dig deep and he's going to be fine.

But I think you learn things. I thought a lot more about certain people and going through this hit the core of me pretty hard -- so I'm still pretty much in shock.

Q: What do you feel was the biggest misconception of everything that went on with the separation from Evernham Motorsports?

Jeremy: I think the biggest thing that I want everybody to know was that I wasn't the one that initiated the decision for me to pursue other opportunities with another race team, and I didn't give up on my race team.

That was Ray's idea -- he was the one that initiated that. So I had no reason whatsoever to do anything to the car, like drive it badly or wreck it -- whatever people may think or write about.

He and I had already agreed we were going to finish the year out, so I had no reason to do anything, or run my mouth at Chicago, because we had already agreed to that, way before Chicago.

So none of that was true. The things that were said [at Chicago about Ray not being there] were said, but I had no reason at all, so help me God, to do anything to get out of my contract. I wanted to finish the year out like we said we were going to do and other than that, that's fine.

I wouldn't have had any problems with it if Ray just told me, 'Look, Elliott Sadler wants to get in the car and we've worked that out, so what can we do to work that out with you?'

That was all I was asking for and I figured that he and I were good enough friends that that could have happened. I could have handled it a lot better than what I did, pretty much with the way it was handled.

But that's behind me and that's probably the biggest shocker; that he never did call. But the thing I want everyone to know is that it shouldn't have been as bad as it really seems or what people are reading right now.

Shana: And I think another misconception is the way it's coming across in certain media outlets and by certain writers. You don't want to point fingers at anybody, and nobody is the bad guy.

Jeremy Mayfield already has another ride lined up for next season. Credit: Autostock

MAYFIELD OUT OF 19 Jeremy Mayfield has known for some time he wouldn't return to the No. 19 Dodge next season. But he didn't know his season in the car would end prematurely.  •   Complete story, click here •   Chicago: Mayfield frustrated by Evernham's absence •   Chicago: Evernham taken aback by Mayfield's comments •   Watkins Glen: Mayfield gets release from Evernham •   Sadler: Communication will make difference, owner says

When you start detrimentally accusing people of certain things, it hurts your career and your livelihood and when you say things that are hurtful and you don't have all the facts you can't retract that, or backtrack.

People that are saying things or writing things need to make sure all their facts are straight. When you're writing a story, you've got to portray the story as the truth, and I think a lot of people have been misinformed and the whole story hasn't been out there.

You hear certain pieces from certain people -- but it's not the whole story. But now, like Jeremy says, it's water under the bridge and we have to go forward.

But it needs to be addressed the right way and it needs to be said in the right way. And how that is, I don't know. Jeremy and Ray just need to talk and maybe -- hopefully -- that will reconcile a good friendship -- because they had a great friendship.

But when other people are involved and saying things, it kind of hurts any chance of making anything better. It's just a weird situation, overall.

Jeremy: Everybody's got their own opinion, so you're going to have different stories.

Shana: Yeah.

Q: You are the defending champion of the GFS Marketplace 400, but you're not going to be there. As bad as you felt last weekend, what are you going to do to keep your mind off it this weekend?

Jeremy: I'll probably get on my tractor, or my bulldozer and make something -- a track or something. But I don't know, it's just ... I don't know. I'll just have to see what happens.

What are you going to do, you know? I guess you can say what comes around goes around. That's the only way you can get through it, is to look at it like that.

Shana: I think it's going to be hard for Jeremy, because like you said, last year at this time we were three or four days away from winning a race and on our way to New York [for the Nextel Cup banquet] for the second time in a row and everything seemed great.

And now we're sitting home and I can tell just by the look on Jeremy's face right now that it's hard on him. It's a tough pill to swallow. He's a racer and that's all he wants to do -- is be out there and race, to win races and win championships.

	Jeremy Mayfield and Ray Evernham have had better times, like making the Chase the past two years. Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers Jeremy Mayfield at EMS Year No. W T-5 T-10 2002 36 0 2 4 2003 36 0 4 12 2004 36 1 5 13 2005 36 1 4 9 2006 21 0 0 0

That's all he's ever wanted to do, and I think what's been the hardest thing about all this is that you don't ever want to be a politician and you don't ever want to get caught up in the middle of anything like this -- having to spend your time explaining this or doing interviews.

You want to be out there, nose down and racing hard for wins and championships. That's all he's ever wanted to do and it sucks that you've got to sit home and watch other people race while you're having to answer questions about a situation you don't even want to be involved in.

Jeremy: Right, but you look at it the other way, the way we were running [at EMS], and nothing was getting better there, either. It was getting bad anyway, and they probably didn't want me in the car.

It just starts wearing on everybody on the team, so we're all better off. We will be better off.

Shana: We definitely wish Ray well and Dodge. They've got great sponsors and we're going to miss everybody. We had a great run last year at Michigan and it sucks that we're not going to be there, but you know what -- we'll be back sooner or later and we'll have a chance at it again.

Q: Jeremy, have you considered going psychiatrist and renting out time to advise these guys who are on the verge of falling in or out of the Chase for the Nextel Cup on how to deal with it, since you made it two years in a row?

Jeremy: Uh, I have -- but they probably wouldn't want to hear what I've got to tell them.

I think if you're in the top 10 you're trying to hold onto what you've got, so you're playing defense for a little bit.

And if you're out of the top 10 -- if you're barely out of it -- you're trying hard to get in, but yet you can't do anything crazy, to get in a wreck or anything like that, so you've got to be a little bit conservative.

And then the engine shop's got to keep everything on their end really safe. For example, Kasey [Kahne, former teammate who is 11th in the standings] doesn't need to go to Michigan this weekend and blow a motor.

He needs to finish that race. He doesn't need to get in a wreck. So that means the engine shop is going to be a little more conservative with his car, I'm sure, with his motor; and then he's going to be a little more conservative.

And yet, it's a fine line because you've got to go for it, to get in. And then you've got the guys that are 12th, 13th and 14th that are even further back but who still barely have a shot -- they're racing like there's no tomorrow because they've got nothing to lose.

Shana: And talking to Jeremy, you've got someone with a way different mentality than anyone else out there, because he's been in both scenarios. Going into Richmond two years ago, when he won, he had nothing to lose and it was just go for it.

Last year, after winning at Michigan he was pretty solidly in. But one thing with Jeremy, he's always been upbeat and optimistic. Even at Richmond in 2004, he was like, "We're going to New York, so get ready."

I think that was how he made the Chase two years in a row. Whatever's been thrown at him, or whatever situation's come up he's just dug deep and when it comes time to get down to it he stays focused.

So I think that's how a lot of these guys need to be: Focused no matter what happens and to believe you're going to be there. I think that's what got Jeremy there both years, is that he believed he could do it no matter what happened.

He had two different crew chiefs, one crew chief left in the middle of the Chase and we still made it through all those obstacles. And I think that says a lot about his commitment and determination to do things.

And I think wherever we end up it's going to be 100 times more. Because sitting out this race and being the defending champion, is just building that fire in Jeremy and I can see it.

I can see it every day. He's so ready to get back. Wherever we go that's going end up being a big asset to any team, because he's been there twice and he knows how to focus that determination and focus.

I can't wait to see him get back in a racecar, because he's going to be on fire.

Jeremy: Oh yeah. I'm on a mission like you-know-where. I can promise you that. I've got something big to prove to somebody.

We're real close on the next step and I hope to make an announcement in a week or so.

Shana: That was a tough decision, too, because there were so many great opportunities with so many great race teams. He's been lucky to talk to some of the greatest in the business.

He's had a tough decision and I've kind of sat back and said, "You've got to make this decision." He's thought about it and I think he's made the right one.

But it's been an honor to be considered by a lot of these people. Jeremy's felt good about that and I think it's given his confidence a boost when right now he's kind of been in a bad situation.

Jeremy: I'm in good shape. My deal's in place -- I just can't talk about it.

Word Association: In the unemployment line

Time off
Jeremy: Not so bad.
Shana: Had enough.

Choices
Jeremy: Honored at opportunities.
Shana: Privileged to have 'em.

Silly Season
Jeremy: Out of control.
Shana: Crazy.