Steve Park

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Born: .......Islip, NY

Resides: ..Cornelius, NC

Height: ....6'2"

Weight: ...190lbs

Birth : .....Aug 23,1967

Steve Park drives the No. 1 Penzoil Chevrolet owned by Dale Earnhardt Inc. on the Nascar Winston Series. ..In his first season(1998)he was toted as a top favourite for Raybestos Rookie of the Year, until injuries suffered in an accident in Atlanta in the spring, kept him sidelined for 5 months.

Steve also drove the No. 3 Chevrolet for Dale and Teresa Earnhardt in 1997. ..It was Park's first full year in the Busch Grand National Division, and he made an incredible showing, running away with the Rookie of the Year honor.

Steve came from the Nascar Featherlite Modified Tour, where he was also quite successful. ..He also won two Busch North Series races in only nine starts. He won his first Modified in '88, then had five wins in '89, all with his own equipment and his own team. ..He then sold his modified equipment and acquired a third-hand Nascar Busch Series car.

Blowing an engine in one of the races forced Steve to shut down the unsponsered team. ..Seeing Park hang around the track, Modified owner Curt Chase asked him to drive his car. After spending '91 and '92 with Chase, Steve moved to TG Racing and won 14 times in two years.

His big break came at Watkins Glen in 1996, when Joe Nemechek asked him to qualify his truck. ..Steve put the truck on the pole.......and this is when some people in the Winston Cup Series started to take notice.

Steve Park On Dale Earnhardt

"No matter what our relationship is over the next 10 yrs., he will always be the guy that gave me a chance to do what I want to do and be successful. I can't tell you how much of an advantage it is to have the benefit of his experience and advice.

He hasn't become a 7-time Winston Cup Champion by not being a good judge of character. He's got a talent that allows him to meet someone for just a few minutes and be able to tell that persons character. The way I describe Dale Earnhardt to people is that if I can be half the man he is and have half the success he has had, then I will be a success".

Three of Nascar Racing's most high profile names joined forces in 1998 when Dale Earhardt Inc. and Penzoil announced that 3-time Winston Cup Champion, Darrell Waltrip, would drive the #1 Penzoil Car until Steve Park returned from injuries.

Said D.W. "This is a perfect example of why you should never say never. ..The last person in the world I ever thought I would be driving for was Dale Earnhardt. ..But, this is a win-win situation for everyone involved. ..It gives Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Penzoil some stability while giving TJ Beverly, my new car owner, a chance to reorganize the #17 team and find a sponsor. ..Now that all the headaches of being a team owner are behind me, I'm ready to climb into the Penzoil car and prove to everyone that Darrell Waltrip can still get the job done as a race car driver."

While I was sorry to see Steve Park get hurt and all but lose his opportunity of winning Rookie of the Year, I was happy to see "Old DW" get the chance to sit in a good ride. ..He didn't let us down either, Darrell put on a spectacular show for the 5 or 6 months that he drove the #1 car.

I think it was also a wakening for Darrell as his record over the last years has not been one fitting a past Champion. ..Seeing Darrell in tears of joy after each race and the overwhelming sensation that he knew he was back had to be enough to move any race fan.

I truly hope that the new ride he has for '99 enables him to run at the front of the field, for it is my belief that "Old DW" still has what it takes!