Mayfield plans to be out front
Jeremy Mayfield has no plan to finesse anybody today at Dover International Speedway.
It will be full speed ahead for the polesitter of the MBNA 400.
“Track position is everything,” said Mayfield, easily the fastest in qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup race. “The guy that starts up front has got the lead and has got clean air all day.”
To be in that position, Mayfield will have to outrace only fellow Dodge driver Ryan Newman to the first turn on The Monster Mile. After that, Mayfield can settle in and let his pursuers risk their cars on the narrow, high-banked concrete oval.
After posting a record-setting qualifying speed of 161.522 mph, Mayfield definitely has the car to beat.
“They give me great cars, and you can’t say enough about how far this team has come along,” he said. “We just keep getting better and better, and that says a lot about Ray Evernham.”
Car owner Evernham was the best crew chief of his era, guiding Jeff Gordon to three of his four series title and 47 victories before leaving to become Dodge’s point man for its return to NASCAR three years ago. The team has only four victories – all by former driver Bill Elliott – but is now hitting stride with Mayfield and rookie Kasey Kahne.
“He put this deal together and worked real hard to get it where it is,” Mayfield said of Evernham. “I’m real excited about the future with this team.”
This is a good opportunity for Mayfield to end a 129-race losing streak dating to 2000. He almost did it last September at Dover, but finished second to Newman.
“We haven’t won, but I feel like we’ve got a good feel for what’s going on,” Mayfield said.
Rain delays Busch race
Bobby Hamilton Jr. will have the lead when the rain-delayed NASCAR Busch series race resumes Monday at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
The MNBA 200 was stopped after 28 of 200 laps Saturday. Another 72 laps were needed to make it official. Drivers were called to their cars twice, but each time the covers were removed the rain resumed.
The sanctioning body waited out a delay of more than 5 hours before persistent rain finally overcame the track-drying process. Two dozen trucks – including three with jet dryers – circled the track for hours.
The race will resume at 8 a.m. PDT.
The delay didn’t cause Hamilton to lose his sense of humor when he was asked about what was going on out on the track.
“Well, it’s raining,” he said. “But I’m ready to go. I’ll drive in the rain if they want me to.”
Tires with no tread make that impossible.
Hamilton preferred to see NASCAR complete the race today. But the MBNA 400 Nextel Cup race is scheduled today with a favorable weather forecast.
“It really throws a curve into everything, this weekend and next, Hamilton said. “Monday, I planned to go to the shop and stuff.”
Hamilton, seeking his first victory this season and sixth of his career, took the lead from polesitter David Green on the 11th lap. Green led from the start but was overtaken at the end of the backstretch.