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Evernham leaving Gordon, Hendrick

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Posted: Friday September 24, 1999 06:39 PM

Jeff Gordon and crew chief Ray Evernham have won three Winston Cup championships in their six-year partnership. Jamie SquireAllsport

DOVER, Del. (CNN/SI) -- Crew chief Ray Evernham will resign at the end of the season, ending a highly successful partnership with three-time Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon, CNN/SI has learned.

Evernham was asked about the report Friday at the site of this weekend's MBNA Gold 400, but wouldn't respond to questions. John Hendrick, head of Hendrick Motorsports, was also mum.

Gordon was unable to shed much light on the report.

"The plan all along has been to take our guys and step them up in our program," he said. "That's been Ray's wishes.

"It looked like things were going to be taking place anyway, and we are basically stepping into a little of that right now. We're still trying to figure out how everything is going to shake out."

Hendrick Motorsports plans an announcement next month concerning Gordon's team.

Evernham will act as Gordon's crew chief at Dover Downs International Speedway, but mechanic Brian Whitesell will make the race-day calls. Whitesell then will replace Evernham when he leaves, perhaps before the end of this season.

Evernham has been Gordon's only crew chief and they have won 47 Winston Cup races. They have won three of the last four Winston Cup titles, but for months, there have been reports of friction between Evernham and the Hendrick organization. His contract runs through the 2006 season, but CNN/SI has learned that a release is being negotiated.

The prospect of Evernham's departure has caused speculation he will start his own Winston Cup team, and possibly even run a new team assembled by DaimlerChrysler. Whether Evernham would be able to do that remains a serious legal issue. This season, he and Gordon started a Busch Grand National team under the banner of Gordon-Evernham Motorsports.

CNN/SI has learned that Gordon is expected to sign a long-term contract with Hendrick, which would include partial ownership of all three Hendrick teams.

 

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.