Evernham Motorsports Names New Research and Development Coordinator for its Dodge Intrepid R/Ts

STATESVILLE, NC (July 10, 2002)-Evernham Motorsports today named Sammy Johns to the position of Test Team and Research and Development Coordinator for the organization's Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/Ts. Johns, previously the crew chief for Jeremy Mayfield in the No. 19 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T, will oversee the organization's ongoing commitment to delivering excellence on the track by preparing for the future. He will focus on the day-to-day management of Evernham Motorsports test teams and race track activities as well as research and development project coordination including chassis, aerodynamics, suspension, engine and future driver development programs.

Johns, who was originally hired for this position in 2001, will work closely with Dodge Motorsports engineering as well as the Evernham Motorsports in-house engineering team headed by Dr. Eric Warren.

"We made a commitment to Dodge to help deliver the best performance on the track," said Ray Evernham, President and CEO of Evernham Motorsports.  "I believe that research and development is the key to staying ahead of the competition. In order to do that, I need someone who is constantly focused on how we can improve our performance.  I originally hired Sammy for that role but needed him in a different capacity for a while. He's done a great job as crew chief of the No. 19 Dodge but now I need him back in the role he was hired for, and he has risen to the challenge."

"This is an important opportunity for me," said Johns. "To have the responsibility of developing the new Dodge and making sure that the cars we bring to the track are on the cutting edge from a technological standpoint is huge. There are a lot of factors that go into that and it's an essential part of our success at Evernham Motorsports. I appreciate the opportunity Ray has given me. While I enjoyed my time as crew chief, it was time for me to work on our future."

Evernham Motorsports also announced that the organization is implementing a new management system for the No. 19 team under which a team manager, a chief mechanic and a rotating team of engineers will run the crew.   

"This system is already used by teams in other series," says Evernham. "With the way our sport is growing and the way technology keeps playing a bigger and bigger role in our development, it's almost too much for one person. This new system maximizes the strengths of our team in an innovative way. I think that as we move forward in our sport, you will see more and more teams trying these types of things. Finding the right system to run any operation whether it's a race team or a Fortune 500 company is the key to success. As a company, we feel the No. 19 can benefit from this type of organization."

Dave Skog assumes the role of team manager. Skog formerly served as car chief on the No. 19 Dodge Intrepid R/T.  Mike Kelley was serving as a mechanic as well the front tire carrier on race day for the No. 19 Dew Crew. Kelley now assumes the role of chief mechanic. He will continue as the team's front tire carrier as well. Ray Evernham, Dr. Eric Warren and Josh Brown will work with team engineers Derek Jones and Kenny Francis on all engineering aspects for the No. 19 team as well as the No. 9 team. Dr. Warren and Brown will assume more of an at-track role in order to work more closely with Evernham, Jones and Francis.

These changes are effective immediately.