The Mayfields: Fuel for thought, and to work out

This week, the Nextel Cup Series heads to Talladega and the Mayfields are split over whether to watch or not -- while trying to determine the ideal downtime workout program and whether or not Juan Pablo Montoya will get a fair shake in his debut.

This week: Are you fueling me?

Jeremy Mayfield's last win came via fuel strategy, in August 2005 at Michigan. Credit: Autostock

Q: Jeremy, you've won before on a fuel-mileage strategy, so what were you guys' take on the finish at Kansas last Sunday -- and from a driver's standpoint what's the pins-and-needles factor as you try to make it to the line?

Shana Mayfield: I thought it was so crazy, and I thought that the coolest part was that Tony [Stewart] didn't even know that he won. He had to ask where he'd finished after he crossed the line.

But you win 'em any way you can and I think that was pretty good redemption for Tony after what happened at Dover, because I think he felt pretty badly about all that happened.

So it was pretty cool to see him win it, and I think he said it was the first time they'd ever won one that way -- but you take one any way you can.

Jeremy Mayfield: When you're playing the mileage game, it's a pretty weird feeling in there, because you're trying to save gas but you know you're going to run out any second.

And you're just hoping you're going to make it one more lap and one more lap and one more lap. And then it comes down to making it one more corner, you know?

You're just hoping you make it through that last one -- so for him to run out on the last lap has got to be a bad feeling at first, but all of a sudden you win the race and you just go, "Wow -- it's not so bad after all."

But it's not a good feeling, really. It is if you win, but if you don't you feel terrible. Once you run out, it's like the bottom just fell out of your bucket.

Shana: I know with Jeremy, his team used to always brag that he could save fuel whenever they needed it, so I think he was pretty good at that.

But I'd hate to have that on my shoulders, knowing that if I'd just done a little bit more to save, or if I didn't race quite as hard, we could have won -- if we ran out.

Jeremy: And saving fuel goes against everything race drivers are about, because you've got to be really disciplined about it. The whole run has to be about saving fuel -- not just the last few laps. That's not what's going to get you the race [win].

You've got to do it the whole run, from where you're sitting, but the engine shop's got to do their part, too. Tony's gotten real good about saving, and a lot of teams have, like the 48 [Jimmie Johnson], the Roush cars -- they make good power and they get good fuel mileage.

There are some teams out there, when they save fuel, they lose their power and that won't get it done. So you've got to watch out for that, too, because as a driver you always want the power, and not the fuel mileage.

But when it comes to a fuel-mileage race and you're tuned for power, that's when it becomes the driver's responsibility, more than anything, to do what he has to do, to save.

But I think it's pretty cool that [Stewart's Gibbs Racing team] has got the power and the fuel mileage. That's pretty neat, because a lot of teams don't have that.

Q: What's going on up in Bill Davis Racing's neighborhood and how's the fleet looking?

	Jeremy and Shana Mayfield Credit: Autostock
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Jeremy: Everything's good up there. I was up there [Tuesday] at the shop and everything's looking good. They're just working hard.

There's a brand new Toyota Camry that I went up there and got all fitted for, and put my seat into it. It looks real good -- real good.

It'll be on the racetrack when we go down for the Homestead test, right after Charlotte [Oct. 16-17]. We'll be testing then, with both a 2007 Camry and the Toyota Car of Tomorrow.

We've got a bunch of stuff we want to try on them that we feel like's going to help. Right now I'm just going to be testing and maybe running some truck races.

We're still working out the program with Billy Ballew and that's almost set, exactly what we're going to do. I'd like to be able to run some more races, but I'm not just going to jump into anything.

Obviously, there's not an awful lot available, either, so we're just playing it by ear. But I'd rather just do a lot of testing and help Bill Davis Racing than I would to be out there running something just to be running.

Q: How's the blog been going on 360otc.com?

Jeremy: That's been going real good, I think. We've gotten a lot of support from the fans and I think it's neat. There are not a lot of people -- drivers and owners and even crew chiefs -- that have done anything like that, to go in there on a weekly basis and let the fans come in and talk to them.

I think it's pretty cool that we've gotten the support that we have, and I'm just hoping it continues.

Shana: And I'm really proud of Jeremy for being disciplined about that, for going on there once a week and letting everybody know what's going on, and responding to his e-mails.

I'm really proud of him for sticking to it, and he's kind of enjoyed it. It's really cool, because Bill Davis gets on there and posts, and Tommy Baldwin does, too; and also the CEO of Rockford-Montgomery Labs, Michelle [Shearer].

So that's cool that the fans can get on their and interact with a lot of different members of the team, not only Jeremy, but also the car owner and the crew chief and someone from the sponsor.

If you check it every day, the membership's just growing by leaps and bounds, every minute, so that's pretty cool.

Q: What else have you been up to?

Jeremy: I've got my [mini] Sprint Car out here and I've been running it around on my racetrack, because I've got that finished. Shortly now, that's going to be part of my workout program on a daily basis, running my Sprint Car.

And I'll tell you what I've been doing a lot of lately, is trying to figure out how to work out and to get in better shape, but to not have to sit in a gym or something like that all the time, you know?

We're in the process of planning right now, and getting ready to build like, a Marine or Green Beret training camp -- or training course.

Shana: Like, where they climb walls and run through tires. It's a course like you'd go through at boot camp in the service.

Jeremy: It's not going to be for just anybody, but we're doing it for me and a couple buddies out here just to stay in shape. I figure, how can you get in any better shape than doing stuff like that, you know what I mean?

It'll be like, Navy SEAL training or Green Beret training -- stuff like that. My neighbor was in the Marines and he's going to help me do it. We're building a wall and he's getting the rope -- so we can climb ropes and stuff like that.

We're actually going to run underneath barbed wire and everything.

I want it to be something that not only will you work out and get in shape -- I want it to be something that will make you tough.

Q: Juan Pablo Montoya is making his stock-car debut this weekend in the Talladega ARCA race. What's it going to be like for him, and even though he's a special case because he's a South American open-wheel racer -- how do rookies get treated?

Jeremy: I think everybody tries to treat most of the newcomers respectfully. I mean, that's what I do. I try to treat everyone normally and not give anybody any special attention or anything like that.

The pressure will be on, because in our sport, Nextel Cup racing, it will be a whole lot more than what it was, believe it or not, in Formula One.

We'll see. I think it's cool and I think it's going to be neat. But I just hope he can live up to his expectations, you know?

Shana: I think it's going to be a totally different story when he walks in and there are over 100,000 people there -- or more than 200,000 in Daytona, with all the hype and intensity.

I'm not saying Formula One is not a big sport, because it is, around the world -- but I think as a live event that will be something he hasn't seen since he's been at Indy for the 500.

And like Jeremy was saying, the media attention is intense and he's going to be under a microscope. And all the accolades he's earned in the past aren't going to mean anything once he walks in that Cup garage.

I think, as a rookie you're going to get treated the same as any other rookie until you do something stupid or race people badly and you lose that respect by doing something dumb.

Or if he starts running his mouth, but I don't see that happening. He'll probably come in pretty quietly and try to fly under the radar a little bit.

Jeremy: I'll tell you what's funny. When I first started driving for Ray [Evernham], he's a big [Michael] Schumacher fan -- with Schumacher this and Schumacher that.

Ha talked about how great Schumacher was, and he is a great racer. But the last couple years, it showed right there that if you don't have the right equipment, even Schumacher couldn't get the job done.

He didn't do much because they changed the teams around and all that stuff, all the equipment, and that just shows if you don't have the right stuff, you can't run.

So hopefully Juan Pablo will have his stuff together, or [team owner Chip] Ganassi will have good stuff for him.

Shana: And those Ganassi cars have been running pretty tough lately, so I think they'll be good.

Q: What will it be like watching Talladega this weekend?

Shana: I don't even know if I'll watch it.

Jeremy: It will probably be one that I will watch, because I haven't ever had the chance to actually sit down and watch one.

Shana: Why would you watch that race?

Jeremy: Because I just want to see what it's all about.

Shana: I'll feel like I've felt the past two months -- it sucks not being there. Sitting at home watching it is just not a fun feeling.

Jeremy: Yeah.

Shana: After last weekend, I think the championship is pretty much in the hands of the top-five guys, I don't know.

Jeremy: That's what gets me, is all the weird stuff that's happened the last couple weeks.

I think once the pressure of the Chase gets into it, it changes a lot of teams' attitudes.

The Mayfields are happy for the success for team member Mike Ford has had with rookie Denny Hamlin this season. Credit: Autostock

Shana: I don't know, but I think the one person that has a really good shot at it is Denny Hamlin, because he's a rookie and he kind of hasn't changed his whole view on things.

He doesn't feel the pressure and he's got nothing to lose -- he's a rookie. I don't think he even realizes how big it is, which is a good thing.

Jeremy: I'll tell you whom I'm really proud of on that team, is [crew chief] Mike Ford.

Shana: Yeah, Mike Ford is a good guy.

Jeremy: Mike went from, not exactly the bottom, but when Ray let him go up there at our deal, when he felt he wasn't getting the job done, or whatever the reason was, he's come back and rebounded from that and showed that he can get the job done and he's a great crew chief.

Shana: He and Hamlin have a great relationship and they're just racing each race, which is exactly what you have to do. And he's really relaxed about it.

But I would really like to see Mark [Martin] win it, and he's third. But Talladega is going to be real exciting.

Word Association: Talladega time

Four-wide
Jeremy: I think it'll be more than that.
Shana: All day.

Testing
Jeremy: It's gonna pay off.
Shana: Hope it pays off. Wish it were every week.

Workout
Jeremy: Marine-style.
Shana: Need to do more of it.