Plenty of opportunities for drivers suddenly on loose

Though he's struggled mightily this season, Jeremy Mayfield's track record may be just what DEI needs to fill their last seat for '08. Nick Laham/Getty Images

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With Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch officially settled in with new teams for next year, the two biggest pieces in the free-agent carousel have finally stepped off the merry-go-round. But just because those marquee names no longer appear on the market doesn't mean that Silly Season shows any signs of slowing down. There's still several top rides available for next year, including spots with Dale Earnhardt Inc., Richard Childress Racing, and the Wood Brothers, among others.

Someone needs to step in and fill each of those cars for 2008, making this the perfect time to be a driver scrambling to find a new home. Where will NASCAR's free agents end up? Let's open up the crystal ball and try to play matchmaker, hooking drivers up with a ride that seems to make sense for them:

J.J. Yeley. Part of NASCAR's sensational sophomore class of '06, Yeley hasn't done nearly as well as counterparts Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. 64 starts into his Nextel Cup career, Yeley has just one top-5 finish to his credit -- second at Lowe's this May after a fuel mileage gamble -- and has struggled to put points on the board while driving the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevy. A driver known for wrecking race cars, Yeley's DNF's in that department have improved -- down from six to three this season -- but back-to-back accidents at Chicagoland and Indianapolis likely sealed his fate with Joe Gibbs Racing, leading to Kyle Busch's introduction as Yeley's replacement on Tuesday.

Still, the former USAC Silver Crown champ should be smiling about his future. He's still considered a wheelman with plenty of potential, and as the youngest experienced free agent left at 30-years-old, that gives Yeley a real advantage. Already, Childress, DEI, and Bill Davis Racing all have contacted his agent and expressed a strong desire for Yeley to join their programs, making the wounds of leaving one of NASCAR's top teams a little easier to handle.

In the end, the best fit for Yeley may be with an organization where he can grow outside of the spotlight. The legendary Wood Brothers team is looking for a younger driver they can build a future around, and although Yeley's been a Chevrolet man his whole career, moving from a high-powered three-car team to a smaller place where Yeley can hone his skills may be the best possible scenario for his future. The team also could likely offer a qualifying exemption for the first five races of '08, giving Yeley a sense of relief to start off next year, rather than a sense of panic with a new team.

Jeremy Mayfield. After the year Mayfield's had with Bill Davis Racing -- failing to qualify for 13 of 22 races -- it's easy to forget this veteran has two Chase appearances and five career victories to his credit. That makes the 38-year-old an appealing proposition, as he's proven through years in top-flight equipment with both Roger Penske and Ray Evernham that he can get the job done.

That type of veteran experience is exactly what DEI is looking for in the wake of being spurned by Kyle Busch. After being fairly convinced the 22-year-old was ready to fill out their roster, his "no" vote to join the four-car team leaves them back at square one, making the race to replace Dale Earnhardt Jr. a wide open affair. If Mayfield can check his attitude at the door -- he's been known to be a volatile personality at times -- he is the best possible option remaining, at least statistically, to sell to potential sponsors on the No. 8. There are other drivers he'll need to contend with -- the team is still trying hard to pry Greg Biffle from his Roush Racing contract -- but don't count Mayfield out to sneak through the back door at DEI, which would offer a much-needed bright spot to the nightmare of his current season.

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