NASCAR WCUP: Steve Park Notes and Quotes, Rockingham
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Steve Park, No. 1 PennzoilChevrolet Monte Carlo: “Again, I’d like to thank
all the media. They’ve given all of us our space this weekto mourn the loss
of Dale Earnhardt. It’s been a tough week and we’ve actually had a lot of
opportunities totalk about the three of us and Dale Jr. has been incredibly
strong all weeklong along with the rest of the family. It’s would be easier
to say I wish Ididn’t know Dale as well as I did, because it probably
wouldn’t hurt so much,but I wouldn’t give up any of the time that we’ve
spent together because he’sobviously given me the opportunity of a lifetime
to be successful. He’s taught us all how to be winners. That’s something
you just can’t replace. Wejust need to go on and do what Dale taught us to do
and do what w feel isright. And that’s basically all we cando. And we sit
back and think you know,how are we going to go on without Dale being there.
But we all know he’s in a better place right now and he’s lookingdown on
us. He’s still guiding us spiritually in what we need to do. And I think
he’d be mad if he knew how muchof a fuss we’re all making. We knowwhat we
need to do. Dale Jr. and Teresa and Ty and whole organization hasreally come
along in the last couple of years to be a team that’s capable ofwinning races
and running up front in Winston Cup. With the addition of Michael, I think
that completed the circlethat Dale was looking at completing. Some of the
fondest memories I have of all four of us racing together atthe Daytona 500.
You just knew Dale wasnot only proud of his son and of Michael and myself,
but proud of what he wasable to accomplish with all the people he’s put
together. Obviously it’s agreat loss. And I’m at a loss forwords. But I
think part of
the healing process is to getback out on the racetrack and do what we love to
do, and not blameanybody. I think Richard Petty said itthe best when Adam
Petty passed away that God doesn’t end somebody’s life witha question mark
in it. He ends it with a period after it. And then we all needto get along
and not question his doing. I know I’m a lot happier to be back at the
racetrack and start to gethis behind us. Although Dale is gone,he’ll never
be forgotten. Again, we’d just like to thank all of you for givingus the
space that we’ve needed all week long. In the next couple of weeks,maybe
we’ll get the opportunity to talk about more wins.”
Text Provided By Nancy Wager
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