NASCAR Wrecks - Will The Court Please Rise!

 

Mayfield takes Evernham fight to court
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service,August 12

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- At a brief meeting with the press before NASCAR Nextel Cup practice Friday morning, Ray Evernham confirmed that Jeremy Mayfield, driver of the No. 19 Evernham Motorsports Dodge, had been terminated.

Mayfield, on the other hand, refused to go quietly and is seeking a legal remedy to the termination of his contract, sources told Sporting News' NASCAR News Service on Friday.

Evernham had announced Monday that Bill Elliott would replace Mayfield in the AMD at The Glen this weekend, after the No. 19 had slipped to 36th in owner points. Only the top 35 in owner points are guaranteed a staring spot in Cup races. As a past champion, Elliott normally would have a provisional starting spot, but that doesn't apply at Watkins Glen because the driver change was made after the entry deadline.

"The team will stay intact, as is," Evernham said. "Jeremy Mayfield has been terminated."

Information obtained from sources in the Iredell County Clerk of Court's office in Statesville, N.C., however, indicated Mayfield had obtained a temporary restraining order, the contents of which were not immediately known, and was seeking a preliminary injunction against his ouster in a hearing in Statesville on Friday.

Mayfield, who had one year and two option years remaining on his contract with Evernham, could not be reached for comment.

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(Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service)