BDR will release Mayfield at end of 2007 season

Bill Davis Racing announced on Tuesday that Jeremy Mayfield will be released from the team at the end of the 2007 season.

"Jeremy has done all we asked of him and more as part of what has been an enormous challenge in 2007 for the entire BDR Cup program," team owner Bill Davis said in a statement. "It has been a huge undertaking to bring Toyota online for their first NASCAR Nextel Cup season at the same time all the teams in the sport were facing the dual competition platforms as we transitioned to the Car of Tomorrow.

"Add to that the challenge of facing the healthiest overall car count in years for the Nextel Cup Series, the elements involved with the top-35 watermark, as well as the education of a company that was in its first Nextel Cup motorsports sponsorship, and it has made for some trying times for all involved."

Being a new Nextel Cup team, Mayfield needed to qualify on time for the season's first five races, a task they were unable to complete as he made his first 2007 Cup start in the fifth race of the season at Bristol.

Since then, Mayfield has only made seven other races and hasn't been able to move into the top 35 in owner points.

In eight races this season, Mayfield has an average finish of 32.8 with his best finish of 23rd coming at Talladega in April.

"I've been in this sport long enough to know that it takes time to bring a brand new car up to speed in what is probably the most competitive racing series in the world," Mayfield said. "When I made the decision to move here to BDR with an untested car and a sponsor completely unfamiliar with NASCAR, I knew it would be somewhat of a gamble. I believed then, and I believe now, that Toyota has a bright future in the Cup Series and is making progress every weekend.

"You only have to look at their success in the Craftsman Truck Series and now in the Busch Series to see where it can go. I think Bill will be successful in resolving the issues that have hampered the No. 36 team this year.

"But I think I have delivered what I can to the effort and looking at the total picture -- what's best for me, what's best for the team -- I believe this is the right time for me to consider other opportunities."

A replacement driver has yet to be named for the No. 36 Toyota.