Evernham served as an analyst with the network from 2008 to 2010, leaving to join Hendrick Companies as a consultant.

Evernham issued a statement:

I chose to take a year off from ESPN out of respect for ESPN and Hendrick Motorsports. I didn’t want to create any perceived conflict of interest while I got my bearings at Hendrick and didn’t want to cause distraction to either company. Now that I’m settled at Hendrick Performance, I don’t have any involvement on the racing side of the operations and it frees me from any conflict with NASCAR teams. Mr. Hendrick and I have worked out an agreement that allows me to return to the ESPN team.

RBR announced in June that they would be leaving NASCAR at the end of the Sprint Cup Series schedule. Since then, there have been no announcements or leaks of who might take over the team. Back when it was announced, there was speculation that Jay Frye, the team’s current general manager, could purchase the team with help from investors. Mark Martin and Ray Evernham were also rumored to be potential owner candidates.

Martin, however, appears to be considering racing part time next season, sharing a Cup seat with Danica Patrick at Stewart Haas Racing.

RBR driver Brian Vickers has also been attempting to line up potential buyers, but nothing has materialized at this point.

REE will help Hendrick develop the Hendrick Performance retail brand of high-performance parts, vehicles, products and related services.

Hendrick said:

Hendrick Performance parts and cars will have a racing pedigree, and Ray is someone who will help ensure that on behalf of our customers and dealers. He’s assembled a terrific group of people at REE, and I see a lot of opportunities for them to be a valuable resource for our organization on projects like this. I know the kind of high standards Ray sets.

Evernham said:

Rick and I have had many conversations over the years about our passion projects, and there’s so much crossover with what we enjoy working on. We both sense an opportunity to do some unique things, whether it’s with performance parts and cars, his dealership business (Hendrick Automotive Group) or other ways to build the Hendrick brand.

In addition to having his suit reinstated, Mayfield also brought new claims to light, which he says shows NASCAR illegally interfered with his business, and had personal malice against him — specifically NASCAR Chairman Brian France. Mayfield requested to have those claims added to his suit.

Mayfield claims that in 2006, France had him black flagged during the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The allegations stem from affidavits in which former in-laws of France’s said that he called NASCAR President Mike Helton during the race and asked him to black flag Mayfield. The affidavits were part of a suit between France and his former in-laws, as he was attempting to evict them from a house he owned.

Mayfield alleges that once he pitted, his car was never looked over.

That race is important because Mayfield hit the wall and finished 41st, which Ray Evernham said Mayfield did in purpose. He was released a few days later, which led him to accuse Evernham of being more focused on other teams than others in his organization – a shot at his girlfriend Erin Crocker, who drove for him at the time.  

Additionally, Mayfield claims that NASCAR was upset with him for signing SmallSponsor.com. The sponsor chose to market itself through a deal with Mayfield Motorsports Inc’s No. 41 Toyota. But, Mayfield’s filing states that NASCAR was courting them to sponsor tracks and races.

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston denied Mayfield’s claims:

Mayfield’s claims are blatantly false and Jeremy and his lawyers know it. In fact, prior to their filing we notified Mayfield’s lawyers that the allegations were completely baseless and that we had evidence to prove the falsity of the claims. Mayfield and his lawyers chose to continue a campaign of lies and disregard the evidence that was discussed with them.

In 2009, Mayfield failed a drug test and was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR for violating the substance abuse policy. In a statement, he claimed that the test was the result of a combination of a prescribed medicine and an over-the-counter medicine. That claim was later denied  by NASCAR’s drug tester. Later, Mayfield filed suit. His suit was later dismissed.