NASCAR WCUP: Park Runs All Day With Leaders at Talladega Before Finishing 14th
18 October 1999
Second-Year Driver Gains Experience As He Watches Boss Earnhardt Win Another Even though he finished 14th Sunday driving 500 miles at Talladega and even though he plans to spend much of this week testing on the same high banks, you can't blame Pennzoil Monte Carlo driver Steve Park if he is already thinking about the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 2000. "I'm ready to get Speedweeks going now," said Park after climbing from the Pennzoil Monte Carlo. "This car is right. It likes to lead the pack and if we can improve our superspeedway program as much in the next few months as we have in the last few months then we are going to have a lot of fun at Daytona." On Sunday, for the first time in his two-year career, the East Northport, N.Y., native ran among the leaders all day on a superspeedway gaining the experience vital to his success in the close-quarters racing. "That was the first time that I really felt like we were able to compete and even show those guys at the front of the pack a thing or two on a superspeedway," said Park who flirted with a top-five finish in the closing laps. "These superspeedways are all about experience. Just look at the guy who won this race today and you will understand the value of experience.' The guy who won the race was Dale Earnhardt. Park's boss. "He's the best here and just about anywhere he races," said Park who moved to 16th in the points race. "We even got to race him pretty hard at the beginning of the race. I think that is where the tire mark on the right side of the car came from. I'm sure I'm going to be hearing about it." Park began Sunday's race back in the pack, but the crew knew the body and engine configuration was created with racing rather than qualifying in mind. It didn't take long for the 150,000 fans jammed into the 2.66-mile track to see that. Park raced to the front climbing as high as second place in the 40-car draft that sometimes went three and four abreast into the wide corners and long straight-aways. Park, like most drivers, worked his way to the front of the pack before being shuffled to the back only to work his way to the front again. He remained patient and relied on drafting as his confidence seemed to soar. He used some of the horsepower the DEI engine shop provided him. "That's probably the best, no in fact it is the best engine I've ever had on a superspeedway. I know race fans tire of hearing drivers thank the guys back at the shop, but our engine shop guys have worked hard, stayed late into the night trying to build better engines. The difference between what we had today and what we had in July is almost night and day." With less than 20 laps to go Park worked his way into the top five, but was powerless when others ganged up to pass in the closing laps. He crossed the finish line in 14th place - but less than a half second behind Earnhardt. "The difference between first and 14th is pretty small," said Park, who is in the top ten in points since the season's halfway mark. "But when I get a little more experience we are going to be a lot closer to first than 14th." Park and the team's time at Talladega is really only just beginning. On Monday and Tuesday he will test the 2000 Monte Carlo that will be introduced at Daytona in February. On Wednesday he flies to Miami for another test. "I know we have just a few races left in 1999 but I wouldn't mind starting the new season next week. I know we would be ready for Daytona." ###