CONCORD, N.C. -- Car owner Ray Evernham has been to Victory Lane with both his cars this season for the first time in team history. He has a car in the championship chase for the second consecutive year. He has what is considered one of the sport's top young drivers in Kasey Kahne.

All would seem to be pretty good for Evernham.

Yet, as he talks, there is more than a hint of frustration in his voice. Evernham, comfortable talking in front of large crowds, was not as smooth Saturday afternoon in a press conference to announce a new sponsor. He apologized for missing the bullet points to the presentation because he was focused more on the performance of Jeremy Mayfield and Kahne.

Afterward, he spoke of the struggles and work that remains.

"From my world I know that we're capable of a lot better results than we're giving,'' Evernham said. "We're off-balance with our cars and that frustrates me because I know how good my people are, I know how good my stuff is and we just can't seem to hit it. Until I've got a car in the top five every week, I'm not going to be happy.''

Evernham said the key is nothing secret. He needs better horsepower, better aerodynamics, better pit stops and improved driving.

"If I felt like we were operating at 100 percent of our potential and that's the best everybody could do, I would be happy," he said. "But, right now, I just don't believe we're operating at 100 percent our potential and that's my responsibility.''

Mayfield entered Saturday night's race at Lowe's Motor Speedway ninth in the points and Kahne was 20th.

Roush manifesto

Roush Racing issued a five-page statement on the value of multi-car teams Saturday, combating NASCAR's challenge of limiting ownership.

NASCAR chairman Brian France and NASCAR president Mike Helton both said last week that series officials are putting together regulations to limit how many teams one car owner can have. Series officials have talked of dropping that number to four and, possibly, three later. Roush Racing has five teams, while Hendrick Motorsports has four.

The Roush paper, written by team president Geoff Smith, contends that "potential team restrictions represent a certain significant loss to every owner.''

Changing plans

Car owner Richard Childress announced that his Busch driver, Clint Bowyer, will replace Dave Blaney next season in the Cup car sponsored by Jack Daniel's. Childress also announced that Jack Daniel's has extended its contract to sponsor the team through 2009.

Bowyer is scheduled to make his debut in the car at next year's Daytona 500. He made his Cup debut at Phoenix earlier this season and could attempt to make another Cup race in a fourth Childress car later this season.

Another sponsor

Evernham Motorsports announced that Stanley Tools will serve as the sponsor for 10 races next year in the car driven by Scott Riggs. Co-owner Valvoline will sponsor the car in 24 races next season.

New deal

The New York Times reports that ESPN/ABC soon will announce it has signed a six-year deal to broadcast NASCAR races through 2012. The paper reported the deal is worth an estimated $280 million annually, 40 percent more than NBC/TNT paid for the rights of the July-November races.

New alliance

Terance Mathis, a former NFL all-pro receiver has formed an alliance with Morgan-McClure Motorsports.

Larry McClure said that he and Mathis will form a two-car team that will be based at McClure's shop in Abingdon, Va. Mathis is responsible for acquiring sponsorship for the second car.

Pit stops

Mike Bliss has said that he won't return to the CNC-Haas team next season, creating a vacancy there. ... Nicorette, a product to help consumers stop smoking, will sponsor Jeff Gordon's car in two races next season. ... The Dale Earnhardt Inc. cars had decals on their cars this week honoring employee Angie Safrit, who died Thursday after a bout with cancer.