Mayfield unable to explain plunge

After two unsuccessful years, he now has slid to 34th in points this season.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- 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."
Troubles adjusting
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 -- two more than Mayfield -- this season.
Starting to wonder
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," Mayfield said. "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."
Evernham said he retains confidence in his equipment, engines and race team structure, but he understands Mayfield's concerns.
"He's had some bad luck and now people are unhappy," Evernham said. "I guess that's to be expected."
The switches last November left Mayfield scratching his head and frustrated with another adjustment. Mayfield has faced changes often since joining Evernham in 2002, "And I hate it. I'm ready to settle down here and race a little while."
Problems clicking
Mayfield acknowledges problems clicking with Andrews -- and the results show that. The team's best finish so far this season is a 16th place at Bristol Motor Speedway last month.
"I'm sitting there trying to feel Chris out, he's trying to feel me out on how to communicate," Mayfield said.
There have been race-day adjustments on the car that haven't worked and minor pit-road foul-ups that have cost them, he said.
"All of a sudden, all that stuff has added up," he said. "Now, we've got to go say, 'Wow, reality has set in, we're not running like we need to run.' "
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."
Can't figure it out
Evernham wonders why Mayfield's team hasn't clicked so far, while Kahne and Riggs have.
"It's like having three kids and two of them are doing really well, but you're more concerned about the one who isn't," Evernham said.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.