Mayfield concerned about slow start to season

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Jeremy Mayfield wants to make one thing crystal clear about his sorry start this season: "I didn't forget how to drive, I can tell you that."

Then what is behind Mayfield's fall from championship contender in the season-ending chase the past two years to the stumbles that have him 34th in points this season?

"I don't even know what it is," Mayfield said. "I like all the guys on the team, I think they like me. It just ain't happening."

Mayfield has had troubles adjusting to the revamped team put in by car owner Ray Evernham after last season, when the No. 19 Dodge finished ninth in the 10-driver chase.

Chris Andrews oversees Mayfield's car. Two years ago, Kenny Francis was Mayfield's crew chief. Last year, it was Richard "Slugger" Labbe, with Francis as the team director.

Now, Francis has Mayfield's Evernham teammate, Kasey Kahne, off to his best Nextel Cup season so far at third in the points.

Evernham's third team, driven by Scott Riggs and led by Rodney Childers, is 29th in points, but has two top 10s this season.

Mayfield is starting to wonder when and how Evernham will step in.

"Ray's on top of everything that goes on," Mayfield said. "And yet, we're this far in the season and I don't see the urgency right now for some reason of why we are running bad.

"I think he's just patiently trying to hope it will all work out," he added. "But if we're not careful, 10 races will be in and we got 16 races to go and we won't be in the Chase."

If things don't turn around soon, Mayfield said, it's natural for people to lose confidence. "Then all of a sudden the rumor mill starts flying and things start happening," he said. "This is going to make or break us."