Evernham could see his teams
performance slipping and after blasting Evernham at Chicago, Mayfield should have been able to see his pink slip coming. Depending on who you talk to, you get two different sides of the story.
Evernham says Mayfield was fired due to performance. As much as I would like to believe it was all about performance;
that is just a hard pill to swallow as this is a team that had made the “Chase” the last two years. Yes, this
was before all of the news about Ray and Erin broke. Coincidence,
I don’t think so.
Yes, it is true that Evernham
has been spending a lot of time with his developmental driver Erin Crocker, whether it is due to Evernham trying to further
Crocker’s racing career or on a budding relationship I am not sure. Personally I think it may be a little of both. Evernham will not comment on his personal life, saying that it has nothing to do with
racing. This is where Mr. Evernham and I have a difference of opinion.
If Ray is having a relationship
with Erin and it is affecting any one of his teams performance, then it is an issue that needs to be
addressed. People in higher positions than a NASCAR team owner (such as a former President of the United
States) have had to answer for personal relationships with subordinates.
So Mr. Evernham, it is time
to stand up or should I say sit down and answer the hard questions, the questions that were brought to the forefront by your
former driver, Jeremy Mayfield.
Questions such as:
How did Mayfield
blasting you at Chicago play into his firing?
Are you and Erin having
a relationship?
If you are having a relationship
with Erin how much did that play into Mayfield being fired and how much has it played into the advancement
of Erin’s career?
Mr. Evernham, it is not
a problem (with the fans or the media) if you are having a relationship with Miss Crocker, the problem lies with the
way you are handling the situation. Not just with the media, but also within your on team. It is time to sit down with the
media and answer the hard questions, the ones you don’t want to answer. The ones
about racing that involve Erin and your team. Your personal life would be if we asked you about your family that
would not involve racing, which at that time the proper answer would be I do not want to discuss my personal life. But
until that is asked and until you stop ignoring the obvious questions then you and only you are adding fuel to an already
hot fire.
Questions, Comments;
Email Matt
The views and opinions in this article are that of the writer and not necessarily that
of SCR
2006 StockCar Review.
