Mayfield shows courage under fire

Monday, May 1, 2000 | 10:25 a.m.

FONTANA, Calif. -- Although everything seemed to be going against him, Jeremy Mayfield still managed to snap a 62-race winless streak Sunday by capturing the NAPA Auto Parts 500 at California Speedway.

As if the looming threat of stiff sanctions by NASCAR, a poor starting position, an overheating oil tank and a faulty ignition box four laps from the end weren't enough, Mayfield had to be treated in the infield care center for dehydration after the obligatory winner's circle celebration.

Oh, and Mayfield -- the 10th winner in 10 races this season -- also went a lap down to the leaders early in the race when he was forced to pit several times while trying to correct the oil temperature problem.

"I (thrive) off of challenges and that's what got us here today," Mayfield said after his second career Winston Cup victory. "These two weeks (have) made us tougher and stronger and made us a better race team."

If this is how Mayfield responds to adversity, the Penske-Kranefuss Racing team may be on the verge of establishing a dynasty.

NASCAR is expected this week to announce penalties against the team for allegedly running illegal fuel in the Mobil1 Ford Taurus during the previous race in Talladega, Ala.

After charging from the 24th starting position to win Sunday's race, you can bet NASCAR took an especially careful look at Mayfield's car during the postrace inspection.

A closer look at the car also would have revealed an engine malfunction, which Mayfield said caused his Ford to run virtually the entire race with an oil temperature reading of 340 degrees. The overheating oil tank, located directly behind the driver's seat, seared Mayfield's back, behind, legs and feet and contributed to his dehydration.

But the biggest jolt Mayfield received came after he had taken the lead for the first time on lap 225. When the race was restarted on lap 247 after the final caution period, Mayfield jumped on the gas, only to have his car quit on him as he entered turn one. At the same time, he thought he had a flat tire.

"Going into turn one, I had a good start and all of a sudden it just quit running," Mayfield said. "Your natural instinct is you start hitting switches.

"You try going into turn one and you don't know if you've got a right-front tire flat or not, and your motor quits and you're trying to wave everybody off and hit switches and turn and try to race and try to win a race all at the same time. That's pretty tough."

Mayfield managed to get the car restarted by switching to a backup ignition box and held off Bobby Labonte for the final four laps. Rookie Matt Kenseth, who led 119 of the 250 laps, finished third.

"No matter how far you're down, you just keep digging and keep working," Mayfield said. "We've been through a lot the last two or three years and been up and down and certainly now we feel like we're on the way back."

Kenseth dominated the latter part of race until the penultimate caution period, when he opted for a four-tire pit stop while most of the leaders were taking on only two. Kenseth left the pits in sixth place, but with several lapped cars between him and the race leader.

"We didn't really need the caution," Kenseth said of the two yellow flags that interrupted the final 30 laps. "It's neat to dominate all day, but it doesn't do any good if you're not in victory lane.

"If it wasn't for the caution, we were going to win the race."

Labonte agreed.

"I think Matt Kenseth would have won and I might have finished second (had it not been for the final two caution periods)," he said.

Although not one of NASCAR's most exciting races this season, the NAPA Auto Parts 500 featured 22 lead changes among 15 drivers. There were five caution periods for 22 laps, which slowed the average speed to 149.378 mph.

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