Notes: Evernham hopes partner creates new vibe

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- After winning a series-leading six races with driver Kasey Kahne last season, only to find his three Nextel Cup teams mired in 23rd, 28th and 38th two-thirds of the way through the season, Ray Evernham could be excused for frowning a bit.

GEM of a deal

Ray Evernham and George N. Gillett Jr. have announced the creation of the new team, Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

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• New owner sports fan at heart

But after announcing a merger with wealthy businessman and sports team owner George Gillett Jr. last week, Evernham said he's optimistic of breaking out of his competitive funk.

"It's been hard, there's no doubt -- I think it's been the hardest competitive year of my life," Evernham said. "I don't think I've ever been involved in a race team in 30 years that's run this bad, ever. That's something that you grow into. I accept the responsibility for it. It's on my shoulders to change it. But it's been very difficult not only on me but everybody here.

"You've just got to know that you're going to get it turned around. As somebody that's competitive and feels responsibility to the people who put money in this program and the drivers that believe in it, it's been a tough year. It's a tough business, and like [his driver] Elliott Sadler says 'There's just days you've got to get up in the morning and put your big boy britches on and go to work.'"

Along with getting more involved in competition decisions and hands-on work, Evernham is looking forward, he says, to getting his third driver, Scott Riggs, signed to a new contract.

"Scott and I are still talking, we've got some options and we've not closed anything yet," Evernham said. "I want Scott to be a part of our program next year. We've got to bring up overall performance as a big part that's on my shoulders. He can help us do that. As the thing grows, I want Scott to be part of it."

Practice makes perfect?
Nextel Cup point leader Jeff Gordon made only five laps in practice, and was fifth on the time sheet behind Denny Hamlin -- who'll start alongside him on the front row Sunday due to qualifying being rained out -- Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson, consistent road racer Ron Fellows and Jamie McMurray.

"It was good to just get some laps in with the new car, and on a track that we don't test at," Gordon said. "We had no idea [of what to expect]. We went and tested at Road Atlanta and ran at Sonoma [Infineon Raceway road course], which is a totally different kind of track.

"So it was valuable information we got in the few laps that we made. Obviously, we would like to have equivalent conditions when we practice as when we race, and I don't even know what the forecast is for Sunday. But I'm hoping [Saturday] morning we can get some clear weather because it's going to be critical to fine tuning this Chevrolet for the race on Sunday."

Consistency counts
Dave Blaney's Bill Davis Racing Toyota team gained its way back into the "unofficial" top 35 in the Nextel Cup owner standings thanks to being consistent with its performance, but after he secured the 35th place in the rainout lineup for Sunday's race on account of that position, he said more was needed.

Blaney, who was 31st-best in the 78-minute Cup practice held before the rains came, is 98 points behind the actual 34th-place team -- with the former Ginn Racing's No. 13 car, which has shut down, between them -- and only 26 points clear of the Wood Brothers/JTG Racing car in 36th.

"We just need to be consistent," Blaney said. "One week, we'll come to the racetrack and run in the top 10, but others we struggle to run 25th. We just need to learn as much as we can about the Car of Tomorrow during races and testing, so we head into next year with good information.

"You look at the teams that run in the top 10 every week, they're consistent -- they don't have bad days. That's what we have to strive for."

Positive teammate
One weekend after he made only his eighth start of the season, but picked up a critical spot in the owner standings on account, Jeremy Mayfield was thrilled despite the rainout possibly nullifying a good qualifying run. Mayfield was sixth on the practice sheet in his No. 36 Bill Davis Racing Toyota.

"I'm excited we're in the show on Sunday," Mayfield said. "We had a really strong practice [Friday]. All the guys on my team really worked hard and we picked up speed every time we made a run.

"We were never outside of the top 10 on the practice sheet, which is a credit to all the hard work my guys put into these cars. The guys really brought a good car this weekend and it showed all day [so] we'll now turn our focus to getting our Camry dialed in for the race."

Smile on, mate
Marcos Ambrose had to struggle to smile after he was knocked out of the possibility of winning his first Busch race last weekend in Montreal. But it wasn't hard to grin despite Friday's rain sending him home without a chance to attempt to qualify for his Cup debut in a No. 77 Robby Gordon Motorsports Ford.

"Always smile -- just the way the day's gone," Ambrose said. "I'm just disappointed I couldn't get a shot at qualifying into the race. But we've been chased so much this week anyway. The media frenzy that has been created around this whole deal, it's been great for me, personally. I can't complain.

"You know, I don't take anything for granted. I always smile and am happy because I don't expect the best -- I expect the worst -- and I'm happy with surprise when it works out. There's no guarantee on anything. I'm just really excited we actually got this opportunity in the first place, and hopefully it will happen again. I can't predict it, but hopefully it'll work out."