Jeremy Mayfield will take over a new NASCAR Nextel Cup ride four races early, replacing Jeff Green in the No. 66 Haas CNC Racing entry for the rest of the season. Mayfield is leaving Bill Davis Racing, and the No. 36 BDR ride he is giving up will be shared for now by Craftsman Truck series regulars Mike Skinner and Johnny Benson. Mayfield will replace Green in the 66 Chevrolet, beginning with Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Haas team announced earlier this month that Scott Riggs, currently with Gillette Evernham Motorsports, would replace Green or No. 70 driver Johnny Sauter in 2008. It hasn’t been determined which car Mayfield will drive next year.
1997 Formula 1 World Driving Champion and 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve will replace No. 36-Jeremy Mayfield next year in a Bill Davis Racing Nextel Cup Toyota. Team General Manager Mike Brown said over the next six weeks, Villeneuve will undergo an intensive testing program that will include seat time in a Craftsman Truck Series entry and possibly an ARCA car at Talladega Superspeedway in October.
Jeremy Mayfield will not return to Bill Davis Racing next season, the team said Wednesday. Mayfield joined BDR this year as the team expanded to two cars, but he’s struggled to make races and has only qualified for eight of the 21 events this season. Mayfield’s No. 36 Camry team was new for 2007 and did not have a guaranteed starting spot in the first five races of the season because it was outside the top 35 in owner points. After missing the first four races of the year, Mayfield never could get in the top 35. No replacement driver was named.