Mayfield, The Chase, Yates, And Roush
Thursday, August 10th, 2006 7:37pm CDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
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[image:365:r:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-water-cooler/]This week the topics wouldn’t be difficult to guess. We were discussing what everyone else was around their office water cooler. Mayfield vs. Evernham, the yo-yo effect of drivers in and out of making the Chase, as well as Yates and Roush.
Mayfield Vs. Evernham.
[thumb:177:l:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-water-cooler/] So Evernham put Bill Elliot in the #19, at least for Watkins Glen as nothing beyond was announced, and apparently Mayfield didn’t know until someone got hold of him requesting an interview. Oops! Did someone forget to mention it to him? Apparently Evernham talked with Mayfield’s management, and they were supposed to relay the decision. While nothing was mentioned past this weekend, it was noted in an article that Mayfield’s name had already been removed from company letterhead and Evernham’s drivers list.
The main points we discussed is how he found out, and what’s going on now? Removal from letterhead? Just for a weekend replacement? What’s the deal here? There’s more to this than we know, that’s for sure. I think our biggest point of discussion still reflected on the delivery method, or lack there of. It’s not like Ray to do that. As I mentioned in a previous article about it, Ray’s better than Bill Davis, so what’s the deal?
So I was reading through this weeks edition of “The Mayfield’s” on Nascar.com, and the tone of the conversation caught my attention. Mayfield isn’t planning on getting back in the seat. He and the misses kept discussing having more time to get settled int he new house, and relax for a bit before going back to the track. The whole tone of it that I got from the interview was Jeremy’s done with it, and will be moving on much sooner than planned. However, it did sound like he had something already worked out, and wouldn’t be off the track long.
As a final note on this, Evernham has said that they have their 2007 lineup in place, and would be making the announcement in the next couple of weeks.
Hmmm, next couple of weeks, huh? Isn’t that about the same time frame for Yates? Coincidence? Perhaps. Then again, maybe not.
Onto the Chase.
The Chase.
[thumb:169:r:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-water-cooler/]Oops! A last lap incident cost Kasey Kahne a lot more than stiff joints Monday morning. It dropped him 4 spots in the standings to 11th place, out of the Chase. He’s got 5 races left to do it, but if the next 5 are like the last 5, he’s on the outside looking in.
This continued the weekly game of ping-pong into and out of the top 10. As it looks now, the 400 point mark is out of the question. Jimmie Johnson is going to have to have a bad day, and a really bad day to bring it into possibility. Along with that, Matt Kenseth would need a burp as well. Although, not near the size of Jimmie’s.
It’s been the pattern of Hendrick to do a little experimentation once a driver was either out of Chase contention of solidly enough into the mix that a few not-so-decent runs wouldn’t kill it.
As Jimmie Johnson would have to pretty much DNF the next 5 races to miss it, he’s sitting in the points lead. Chad knows it’s not time to experiment. No matter if it might provide a slight assistance to their Chase effort. He wants Jimmie in front come the return to Loudon, and who can blame him.
Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon, while in the top 10 still, aren’t there by much. From 6th place Mark Martin back to Junior in 10th is a scant 100 points. This thing is far from settled, and the yo-yo effect will continue.
Yates.
[thumb:381:l:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-water-cooler/]
So Todd Parrot is going to be one of the saviors of Robert Yates Racing, again. Can’t blame Yates or Parrot. The history is there, and that’s more than what Yates has to work with now. We’ll see how long it lasts over there this time.
Also, there’s a rumor floating around after Robert Yates was seen taking David Starr out to dinner. The rumor is that Yates has seen the Leicht, but that it came from a Starr. That would be a much better move than the young Stephen Leicht. He needs more development time, and that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.
However, we keep asking ourselves one thing.
Hello Robert, where’s Ward? That’s the smartest move, and the safest one too. Find a sponsor, and make em listen. Just the press from Burton’s return would be an incredible value. Along with it, as he helps you fix RYR, will come even greater attributes and sponsorship value. Be like Nike, and “Just Do It” already.
Yates.
[thumb:176:r:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-water-cooler/] What’s going on with Mark Martin? Reports are drowning in a rumor that either Roush or Ford has flat out offered him an $8 million bonus for one more season. What? Salute to you 3? Not that this season was really pushed as 2.
Roush says their plan is for Mark to be in the truck full time next season, and nothing else about it.
However, Roush also has a little problem. In fact, it’s very similar to the same problem Yates has. The development driver (Todd Kleuver) that was originally planned on taking over the 6, once they found Kurt leaving and moved McMurray over to Kurt’s old team, is still not ready to move up to Cup. Jack knows it. Add to this that the face of Ford will be changing next season, with the shake up at Yates, and you have a manufacturer in need of experience.
Well now, isn’t that ironic?
Filed Under: Features, Nascar, Nextel Cup, The Water Cooler
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