When Jeremy Mayfield (left) and Scott Riggs were photographed together in 2006, they were with different teams. They'll now compete as teammates in Haas Racing. FILE/Todd Warshaw/GETTY IMAGES View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

Mayfield, Riggs eye fresh start with Haas AUTO RACING

NASCAR media tour

BY JIM McCONNELL

Date published: 1/23/2008

By JIM McCONNELL BY JIM McCONNELL

CONCORD, N.C.--Reunited at Haas CNC Racing, former teammates Jeremy Mayfield and Scott Riggs no longer have to waste time and energy worrying about ownership changes, financial woes or their order within the team hierarchy.

For the first five races this season, neither even has to worry about qualifying, since both drivers inherited teams that finished 2007 inside the top-35 in points.

All they have to do is get to the front of the pack as quickly as possible.

"This is as good a race team as there is anywhere. As far as resources, man, you can't beat it. It might not take long to show this team is capable of winning races," Mayfield said yesterday during a morning stop on the annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour.

"It's up to us to utilize our resources. If we don't utilize them, it's our fault. If it doesn't help us, it's our fault. If we don't win races, it's our fault. It's not [team owner] Gene Haas' fault. It's not Haas Automation's fault. It's our fault because we can do it."

That's tough talk, considering both of Haas' new drivers endured 2007 seasons that could best be described as disastrous.

Mayfield, 38, signed on to lead a new Toyota team for Bill Davis Racing last year, but the operation was hampered by sponsorship issues more than a month before the season-opening Daytona 500.

Forced to qualify his way into the field from the first race, Mayfield's season never really got off the ground. He made only 17 starts and was 45th in points when he and Davis mutually agreed to part company with four races remaining.

He promptly joined Haas CNC, however, and signed a deal to replace Johnny Sauter in the No. 70 Chevrolet now sponsored by Haas Automation.

"I felt like when New Year's Eve came and went, I was a new man," Mayfield said. "Last year is over. I have a new start, a new beginning, and this is all I ever wanted."

Ditto for Riggs, who admitted he felt like a third wheel behind popular drivers Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler while competing for Gillett Evernham Racing.

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Date published: 1/23/2008