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NASCAR WCUP: In Four Races Since Daytona Park Moved Up Seven Spots in Points

18 August 1999

The 400-mile race in Daytona is traditionally the halfway mark in the long
Winston Cup season. Driver's who have struggled in the first half of the
season look at the races after Daytona as a chance to wipe the slate clean
and start all over. #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo driver Steve Park struggled at
Daytona finishing 42nd, but after the race he vowed that New Hampshire would
start a new season and give birth to a new sense of optimism on his Dale
Earnhardt Inc. team. Since Daytona, Park has finished 12th at New Hampshire,
8th at Pocono, 15th at Indianapolis, and 12th at Watkins Glen. He moved from
31st to 24th in car owner points and is the ninth highest scoring driver. He
returns to Michigan Speedway this weekend where he finished sixth - a career
best - in June.

Car Owner Points Since The Pepsi 400 At Daytona

1	Jarrett	685
2	Martin	619
3	Stewart	600
4	Gordon	597
5	Dallenbach	573
6	T.Labonte	543
7	J.Burton	524
8	Earnhardt	522
9	Park	519
10	Skinner	503

Second Half Success:

"The first half of our season didn't go like we expected and finishing 42nd
at Daytona was like hitting rock bottom. But at moments like that you have a
choice.  You can give up and make excuses or you can start figuring out ways
to make things better. We want to make things better and I think we have to
some extent. We started finishing races, started doing the things the guys
at the top of the field have always done. We haven't threatened for a win
yet, but we aren't ready for that. First we want to get the Pennzoil car to
run in the top 10 consistently, then the top five then we will start
expecting victories."

Changes For This Michigan:

"You never sit still in this business. Dale Jr. tested up there because
Goodyear is introducing a new tire. Dale Jr. said the tire wasn't as fast as
the one we ran there last time, but it should be even more durable. Of
course that isn't the only change. We are taking a different Pennzoil Monte
Carlo to Michigan this weekend. I hope it will be the difference between a
sixth-place finish and something even better. This weekend's car is the car
that led 84 laps at Charlotte and was one of the fastest cars during the
race at Indy a few weeks ago. When it gets done here we will probably have
that car back at Charlotte. There are always changes in NASCAR. Someone once
said you either get better or get worse, but you never stay the same. I
think we are getting better."

Race Information: Sunday, August 22, 1999 in Brooklyn, MI
*	TV: ESPN 12:30pm/et
1998 Race Winner: Jeff Gordon
Track/Race Length: 2.0 mile oval, 200 laps, 400 miles
11:00 a.m. - 2:25 p.m Practice: Friday, August 20th, 11:00am - 2:25am/et and
after 1st round qualifying; Saturday, August 21st, 9:00 - 10:00am/et
Happy Hour(final) Practice: Saturday, August 22nd after the BGN event,
TV-ESPN2 7:00pm/et
Qualifying Draw: Friday, August 20th at 10:30am/et
First Round Qualifying: 1 lap for positions 1-25, Friday, August 20th at
3:30pm/et, TV-ESPN2, also live via MRN radio/internet
Second-Round Qualifying: Saturday, August 21st, 10:45am/et for 1 lap,
positions 26-36
Event Qualifying Record: Jeff Burton, August 1996, 185.395mph
Track Qualifying Record: Jeff Gordon, June 1995, 186.611mph
Last Year's Pole Sitter: Ernie Irvan, 183.416mph
Pit Road Speed: 55mph

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