Evernham Can't Always Get What He Wants

Even though his team doesn't look to appealing this season, NASCAR owner Ray Evernham is still trying to get in on some of this free agent action.

When Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he was leaving DEI, Evernham expressed his interest even though he knew it was a long shot:

"It's like trying to get a date with Jennifer Aniston -- if you see her, you've got to at least ask."

Now that Kyle Busch is available, Evernham is once again raising his hand:

"Quite honestly, I said [to Kyle], 'At least talk to us before you make a decision.' I did let it be known that I want to talk to him. All we can do is lay out the program compared to what else is available for him and see what he thinks of us. His driving ability is just unbelievable. I've worked with other drivers through that [age] period, and I'd like to have another shot to do it again."

While he's anxious to talk, Evernham isn't too keen on the evolution of silly season itself and how it's become a free-for-all:

"There will have to be more controls over who and when you can talk to the crew members and the drivers. If I have a contract with you, and you have two or three more years on your contract and you go and tell me that you've signed with somebody else when your contract is done, you've basically killed my program.

"So sooner or later, there'll be a lawsuit over something like that, and that'll start to change it."

Why is he so bitter?

Oh right ... Elliott Sadler became unhappy when I wasn't looking.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-15-2007 @ 10:43PM

Stefanie T said...

Awww poor Ray! I didn't think Elliott would be to happy there, I just don't see him & Ray getting along well! You are right Ray does sound bitter... him & Kyle should get along great

6-16-2007 @ 1:42AM

CJ said...

I dont know if Kahne and Busch could co exsist but if Jr and Gordon can, i guess it's possible. If this happens, i say Riggs is out and Busch is in.

6-16-2007 @ 10:57AM

Kari said...

All three EMS teams are pretty unhappy the way things are going right now--they're way behind, simple as that. Who can blame them? If Sadler's so unhappy in his own right, he could always go back to the M&Ms ride...which is doing oh, so much better this year. *snark* I like Sadler but three wins in 7.5 seasons doesn't exactly make him king of the hill.

6-16-2007 @ 1:46PM

sandie said...

Sadler is a mediocre driver at best. Earnhart Jr. and Sadler would both be better off working for Mikie Waltrip and then they could be off Sunday. Both Sadler and Earnhart whine and complain about the equipment they drive........they do not realize that they as drivers suck. Both have crummy records. Yates is a super organization and Sadler bailed out of there. These drivers seem to think they are indispensable......they are not as other drivers would love to have their ride. Wanna bet Earnhart does no better with Hendrick than with DEI. Sadler and Earnhart blame everyone else and are not smart enough to see they as drivers suck at best.

6-16-2007 @ 2:19PM

Nan said...

If Kyle thought he was playing second fiddle to Jeff and Jimmie, why would he go to work for someone like Evernham? Ray has already demonstrated that he would pull the team and crew chief from his top performing driver to give to his most marketable driver. If Kyle did well, it wouldn't take long before all his equipment and personnel gets transferred to Kahne. Ray left Mayfield to struggle and he is leaving Sadler to struggle. Why go into that type of situation?

6-16-2007 @ 6:12PM

kjaslp said...

Wow, I didn't realize so many people hated Evernham and disliked Kasey. Very interesting. Wondering who the Kasey Bashers like, I mean if you hate Kasey, who is there left to like? My take on the entire thing-signing Kyle Busch to Evernham is about as stupid of a move as dating Erin. Bad, really bad idea. Busch will stay with Chevy and go to Ginn. Ginn will have the patience for that idiot and his limited cognitive ability. Kyle will be his number one driver which is what stupid shrub wants. As far as Elliot being unhappy, who in Evernham is? They just don't have the funds that the Yankees (Hendrick) and the Redskins (Gibbs) has. If Ray can score Gillett, next year will be a entirely different story. Don't look for Riggs to be back next year.
Mayfield deserved everything he got. He's just "Such An Amazing Driver, doing so much this year"--so much for that theory. He better stick to raising dogs.

6-16-2007 @ 7:00PM

Exactly, kjaslp. It's an owner's prerogative to do whatever needs to be done in his best interests--after all, the bottom line comes back to him. And it's not like Mayfield was ever setting the world on fire at EMS. Taking this year out of it (because I don't believe the problem at EMS this year is the drivers), Kasey did more with Jeremy's crew chief and team in one year then Mayfield ever did.