| | | | | | CHANGE IN PLANS | Jeremy Mayfield to drive No. 66 Chevy for rest of season | |
| | By Marty Smith / ESPN.com Jeremy Mayfield will replace Jeff Green in the No. 66 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series beginning this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
"We made the decision this morning," Haas/CNC Racing general manager Joe Custer said on Monday. "We've made a change. Jeremy will drive the 66 car at Atlanta and for the remainder of the season."
Mayfield embraced the new situation.
"Every indication is that this is a team with unlimited potential," he said. "The shop is state-of-the-art, the equipment is first rate, there is an outstanding relationship with Hendrick Motorsports here, and it's my challenge to make it all equal success on the track. I'm ready to see how far I can take it."
Mayfield will remain at Haas/CNC in 2008, as well, Custer said, though it's not yet known which number car he'll drive.
"A lot of those details depend on sponsorship," Custer said.
Scott Riggs recently signed with the team, as well, and will drive the other Haas/CNC entry in 2008.
In joining Haas/CNC, Mayfield leaves a No. 36 Toyota team that has struggled in 2007. Mayfield has only qualified for 13 of the season's 32 races, with a season-best finish of 22nd.
Bill Davis Racing plans to run the car Mayfield was in the remaining four races. NASCAR Craftsman Truck series drivers Mike Skinner will compete at Atlanta and Texas for BDR and Johnny Benson will race the car at Phoenix and Miami.
"Mike Skinner and Johnny Benson are seasoned veterans of the Nextel Cup series and we are hopeful the skills and knowledge they both have acquired throughout their racing careers will help us to work toward getting the No. 36 team back on track for the reminder of this season and beyond," Davis said.
Mike Brown, general manager of BDR, said he is "99 percent" sure Jacques Villeneuve will compete for BDR in the Phoenix COT race.
Green told ESPN.com last week that as far as he knew he was driving the No. 66 in 2008 and that he had a contract with the team for next season.
| | Posted October 23, 2007 , 2:44 pm EST
Last Updated October 23, 2007 , 2:45 pm EST | | | | | | | | | | |
