SETBACK AT LAS VEGAS DOESN’T DERAIL MAYFIELD’S FOCUS

I always knew there was a good chance we’d miss one of the first few races of the season. I guess that’s just what I figured when we put this team together some 30 days ago. But when we made Daytona, I started to think, “Wow, we can do this!”

Then we went on to California last week and made the second race and I started to think we could really pull this off. Heading to Vegas and seeing 51 good cars on the entry list, I realized that this was going to be a really tough race to make. We had a somewhat challenging practice, but at the end there I felt like we got the car driving good and I thought we’d be okay. There was a hiccup getting through tech before qualifying and that always adds to the stress for a driver because you’re sitting on pit road and waiting for your car to come out. And waiting and waiting ...

So finally, I got in my car and did everything I could to focus on the track – the way I usually do – by taking it one turn at a time. Trouble came early and I knew when I got down into turn one that it was going to be tough to get the lap we needed. I bottomed out going into one and that was just enough of a setback to keep us from running a fast enough lap and getting the All Sport Toyota into the show.

But the good thing is that I know, without a doubt, that I did everything I could out there. I got the most out of the lap that I could. As a team, we’ve got some work to do on our cars and I know we’ll get there. It just takes time to really build the program to the level it needs to be at to compete week in and week out. And even though we missed the race today, there’s still a good chance we can get locked in the top-35 after Bristol if we play our cards right in the next two races.

After qualifying, I had to turn my attention to an appearance – a Trackside Live taping for SPEED Channel. And even though I’m honored to be part of their lineup, part of me just wants to go back to the hotel and forget about that day. But that’s where Jeremy Mayfield the driver has to separate himself from the driver. There are responsibilities and commitments to people and when you agree to do something – like a TV appearance – you have to follow through.

As a driver, yeah I’m disappointed, but as a team owner, I’m ready to be the spokesperson for my team and sponsor.

And now that I’m wrapped up with my media commitments, I’ve got to turn my attention to Atlanta and work with the guys to figure out what we can do to come back even stronger from Las Vegas.

Someone told me a few weeks ago that adversity makes a team stronger and I expect that to be true for this organization. We will come back stronger, hopefully beginning with next week at Atlanta.