Mayfield-Evernham spat getting nasty.

It is safe to say that Jeremy Mayfield and Ray Evernham won't be sending one another cards this Christmas as the dispute between the two parties continues to rumble on.

Although Mayfield and Evernham were able to resolve their initial dispute over Mayfield's firing from the #19 Evernham Motorsports Dodge following the Brickyard 400, the ramifications of the injunction filed by Mayfield could rumble on for some time.

Even with Elliott Sadler now in the seat of the #19 Dodge for the long term and with Mayfield due to be confirmed as a Bill Davis Racing driver in the very near future, allegations by both parties threaten to overshadow the end of the season.

With Mayfield pointing the finger at Evernham's apparent continued absence from the day to day running of the #19 team as well as his 'personal relationship' with the team's developmental driver Erin Crocker, Evernham has accused Mayfield of deliberately crashing out of his final race with the team at Indianapolis in order to try and push the #19 out of the top 35 in owner standings.

The #19 team, who have made both of the first two Chase for the Championship races with Mayfield behind the wheel, dropped to 36th in owner points following Mayfield's Indianapolis crash, forcing the team to qualify for the subsequent race at Watkins Glen on speed. Although Bill Elliott successfully made the AMD at the Glen, it wasn't until Sadler's debut top ten finish with the team in Sunday's GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan that the team returned to the top 35.

Manufacturer Dodge, who returned to NASCAR in 2002 with Evernham's team leading the front line, have meanwhile re-affirmed their support for the title winning crew chief turned team owner.