Jeremy Mayfield

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jeremy Allen Mayfield (born May 27, 1969 in Owensboro, Kentucky) is a driver in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series who drives the #36 Toyota Camry for Bill Davis Racing. He is married to his wife Shana, and they own three bulldogs and two pugs.

[edit] Career before NASCAR

Mayfield began racing in his hometown of Owensboro, racing BMX bicycles. He then proceeded to race go-karts at local shortracks, moving to Nashville Speedway USA at the age of 19. He soon went to work for Sadler Bros. Racing as a fabricator, and became their driver, winning Late Model Rookie of the Year at Kentucky Motor Speedway in 1987.

In 1993, he joined the ARCA series, and was named Rookie of the Year. He also made his Cup debut at the Mello Yello 500, starting 30th and finishing 29th in the #95 Ford Thunderbird sponsored by Mac Tools.

[edit] Early NASCAR Career

Mayfield involved in a 23 car wreck during the 1997 Die Hard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. (Mayfield is driving the #37 Ford.)

In 1994, Mayfield declared for NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year, and signed to drive the Sadler Bros.' 95 Shoney's Ford. Unfortunately, he struggled heavily in the 95, and was released. He signed to drive the #02 for T.W. Taylor sponsored by Children's Miracle Network for four races, before completing the year in the #98 Fingerhut car for Cale Yarborough. He ran twenty starts in his inaugural season, his best finish a 19th at Rockingham. In 1995, he stayed with Yarborough full-time with new sponsorship from RCA, and had an eighth place run at the Miller Genuine Draft 500, and had a 31st place finish in the points standings after qualifying for 27 out of 31 races. The next season, he had two top-fives won his first career pole at the DieHard 500, before he was released and replaced John Andretti in the #37 Kmart/Little Caesar's Ford for Michael Kranefuss. (Ironically, Andretti replaced Mayfield at his old ride). Mayfield ended the year 26th in points.

[edit] Late 90's

Mayfield returned to the Kranefuss team in 1997. He had eight top tens, including two fifth-place runs, and finished a then career-high 13th place in points. After the season, Kranefuss sold part of the team to Penske Racing South, and switched to the #12 Mobil 1 Ford Taurus. Mayfield took the points lead early in the season, and won his first career race at the Pocono 500. At the end of the season, he was seventh in points. He was unable to replicate his success in 1999, and dropped four spots in the standings, despite twelve top-tens. In 2000, he won four poles and two races. But at the California 500, his car was found to have violated the rules, and was docked 151 points. Later, while practicing for the Brickyard 400, he crashed hard into the wall. He suffered a concussion, and was forced to miss the next two races. He finished 24th in points that season.

He began 2001 with two consecutive third-place finishes, but his performance fell off, and was released after the Protection One 400. He sat out the rest of the season.

[edit] Recent years

In 2002, Mayfield sign to Evernham Motorsports, replacing Casey Atwood. In his first year, Mayfield had just four top-tens and finished 26th in points. He rebounded some in 2003, winning the pole at the Aaron's 499 and posting 12 top-tens, finishing nineteenth in points. Finally in 2004, Mayfield returned to victory lane at the Chevy Rock and Roll 400. He also made the inaugural Chase for the Cup, and finished tenth in points. In 2005, he won the GFS Marketplace 400, and finished ninth in the standings. In August he was released from Evernham after his team fell out of the top-35 in owner points, and replaced by Bill Elliott and then Elliott Sadler. Mayfield signed a contract with Bill Davis Racing for 2007, driving the #36 and will have sponsorship from 360 OTC.

[edit] Controversy

On August 8, 2006, Jeremy learned through NASCAR.com that he was not placed onto the entry list for Watkins Glen, instead replaced by former Evernham driver Bill Elliott. With discussions of a move to Bill Davis Racing by Mayfield in the past month or two before this, it seemed likely that Jeremy would be released to make this transition sooner than later. [1] Evernham later confirmed that Mayfield had been released from his contract after making comments about Evernham not being at the track often. Mayfield later stated that the problems with the 19 car stemmed from lack of attention from the team owner due to a "close personal relationship" with developmental driver Erin Crocker. Mayfield stated that Evernham was not with the Cup cars most weeks because of the extensive, and uncommon among other teams, attention that he was giving Crocker and her #98 truck team.

In an interview on NASCAR.com published August 17, 2006, Mayfield says he has a deal in place with another team, but he can't disclose the details of it. [2] It was confirmed later that Mayfield will drive for Bill Davis Racing in 2007 and has signed a three year contract with optional two-year extension.[3] Bill Davis Racing will be putting Toyota's on the Nextel Cup circuit in 2007. Mayfield will be driving the #36 Toyota Camry with 360 OTC as the main sponsor.

[edit] Other Series

Mayfield has 36 career Busch starts. So far, he has five top tens, his best finish being a fourth at Rockingham in 2003. He has also one Craftsman Truck Series start, at the 2003 Hardee's 250 for Green Light Racing. He finished sixth.

[edit] External links

• Official Site
• Driver stats at racing-reference.info