^BC-CAR--NASCAR-Michigan Notebook,0961<
^Evernham-Mayfield dispute settled<
^By MIKE HARRIS=
^AP Auto Racing Writer=
¶ BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) _ Team owner Ray Evernham and fired driver Jeremy Mayfield have reached an out-of-court settlement of their very public dispute.
¶ Debby Robinson, a spokesperson for Evernham, said Friday that the lawsuit filed by Mayfield to block his firing was settled last Friday to the satisfaction of both parties.
¶ "From here on out, everybody just wants to take the high road," Robinson said.
¶ Mayfield, who reached the NASCAR Chase for the Nextel Cup championship the two years, struggled throughout the season and left the team two weeks ago after crashing and finishing 41st in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.
¶ That result knocked the No. 19 Dodge team out of the top 35 in car owner points. The top 35 are guaranteed to start every race, while those outside the top 35 have to qualify in speed.
¶ Things got off to a rough start for Mayfield this season after Evernham moved his veteran crew to the No. 9 car of Kasey Kahne and moved Kahne's less experienced crew to the No. 19.
¶ In court documents, Mayfield said that was the beginning of the team's problems and accused Evernham of being an absentee owner, saying that the team owner was distracted by a "close personal relationship."
¶ In turn, Evernham told the court in an affidavit that Mayfield breached his contract by failing to put forth a total effort and by disparaging the Evernham team and the owner in public comments. He also said Mayfield crashed his car at Indianapolis on purpose, an allegation that Mayfield has denied.
¶ Evernham has refused public comment and was not available for comment Friday at Michigan International Speedway. Phone calls to Mayfield and his agent were not returned.
¶ Mayfield was replaced in the No. 19 by Bill Elliott last week at Watkins Glen and Elliott Sadler takes over the ride full-time beginning with Sunday's GFS Marketplace 400 at MIS.
¶ Mayfield is the defending champion of the Michigan race but has no ride and said earlier this week he planned to remain at home in North Carolina.
¶ ___