Mayfield To Return To Cup Full Time In 2009

Jeremy Mayfield will return to Sprint Cup competition full time in 2009, driving the No. 41 Toyota for his own team, Mayfield Motorsports.

MM is a joint venture between Mayfield and Gary Smith, Chairman and CEO of All Sport Inc., which will sponsor Mayfield’s entry. All Sport body quencher is a sports drink.  

Mayfield attributed his venture into ownership to a key change NASCAR made in the off season:

I have to give NASCAR a lot of credit for the things they’ve done in the sport over the last two years to make it possible for people like me to get involved as a team owner. The new COT car and even more importantly the testing ban have made it a reality for me to come in and compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Triad Racing Technologies will provide engines and chassis for MM, while Tony Furr will serve as crew cheif. Furr served as crew cheif for Cale Yarborough’s No. 98 team and driver John Andretti, where he led Andretti to victory in the Pepsi 400 from Daytona International Raceway. He also led Jerry Nadeau to his first and only victory, in the Napa 500 from Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 25.

Mayfield acquired the number from Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, but the points from the 41 did not move to Mayfield’s team.

See images of the car on Jayski’s page.

Busch = Legend? Ridiculous!

Why is everyone in the media so quick to compare Kyle Busch to the likes of Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, David Pearson, Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, etc.?

Sure Busch is on one heck of a tear this season, visiting Victory Lane seven times in the Sprint Cup. He’s got 14 wins in all three major series and is on pace to win around 12 races in the Sprint Cup series alone, this season.

But, come on. To put his name in with the likes of past champions and legends is ridiculous. I’ll say it again, it’s ridiculous!

Don’t get me wrong, Busch has phenominal talent. He’s capable of winning a championship this season, and in some ways, it’s his championship to lose at this point. But, that doesn’t make the kid a legend.

How can you compare a guy in his third year to a seven-time champion? You can’t. Well, you can, but it would be absolutely ridiculous.

You know what makes legends? Being a consistent top performer, not one hot season. Now, no one knows what next season will bring, but let’s give Busch time to prove he’s a legend before we start calling him one.