Evernham makes quick change

By: Lou Bezjak/Morning News | SCNow
Published: January 22, 2008

Ray Evernham has experienced the highs and lows in racing.

Last year was definitely one of the low points since he left to start his own team in 2000.

His team, which fielded cars for Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and Scott Riggs, didn’t win a race. Kahne was the only one to finish in the top 20 in points, and he was 19th.

“It was a tough year professionally and personally. But if you look at any business or sports team, you’re going to have years like that,” Evernham said Tuesday during the Sprint Cup media tour. “It’s how you respond and restructure and react. It’s the years after ones like that which prove if you have a strong organization.”

The team has gone through many changes, dating back to the end of last season when Evernham partnered with George Gillette, who owns the Montreal Canadiens, to form Gillette Evernham Motorsports.

Gillette was brought over to help run the business aspect of the team.

John Fernandez, who oversaw Dodge Motorsports programs for years, has joined the team. Marc McArdle also was promoted to vice president and managing director of competition.

“Our goal is to win races and championships. Until we do that, I won’t rest and neither will our employees at this race shop,” McArdle said. “This company has a history of winning races and I fully expect we will resume that tradition here shortly.”

The restructuring will help free up Evernham to focus more as a teacher to his three teams.

“I’m going to be more of an encyclopedia and not have a set day-to-day responsibility,” he said. “I’m going to help wherever I’m needed.”

Kahne, who went from nine wins in 2005 to none last year, said the restructuring and McArdle’s influence have already been felt.

“It is much different now especially since Marc has come on board,” Kahne said. “It is going to make Gillette Evernham a much different company.”

Kahne, though, said it won’t be a quick turnaround but expects the team to be stronger by midseason.

“We can’t expect the team to be the best team out there at the start. We can’t expect that especially since where we have been,” he said. “But as time goes on, we can get into the top 10 where we need to be and know we can be.”

The team also brought in Patrick Carpentier, one of the many open wheel drivers making the move to NASCAR, to replace Riggs in the No. 10 car. Carpentier ran the final two Cup races as well as a couple road course events last season.

“Patrick learns real quickly, but he still has to go through the process,” Evernham said. “But by the end of the season, he could surprise a lot of people.”

Evernham is hoping that is true for the team as a whole.

“I hope with the changes that I made and the restructuring I did, people will look back and say that’s a strong organization. He had a tough year and responded,” he said.

Evernham makes quick change

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