NASCAR BGN: Park Always A Threat To Win Richmond Busch Race
7 September 2000
#31 Whelen Monte Carlo driver Steve Park ran out of time when he last raced at Richmond International Raceway. Only the checkered flag could stop Park's charge from mid-pack over the final 60 laps that saw him move from 25th to sixth place. If the race had been but twenty laps longer, it appeared Park would have finished second to Mark Martin. The pair led most of the race until a mid-race pit stop put them at the back of the field without enough time to return to the front. This weekend Park returns in his Marsh Racing Monte Carlo to the Virginia short track with a realistic chance of winning. In 1997 Park edged Randy Lajoie to earn his second of what turned out to be three victories in the 1997 Busch Season. Park finished the 1997 season third in points and won the rookie award for Dale Earnhardt Inc. Richmond Goal: "Sure we want to run good and get on television for Whelen. But, our only goal is to win. Nothing beats having a trophy. Winning (the Winston Cup race) at Watkins Glen reminded me how cool winning really is. The last time there (Richmond) we had a good run. If we could have just raced a bit longer, I think we would have caught everyone except Mark. But, we were good. Richmond and New Hampshire were our best races this year." Why So Much Success In The Richmond Busch Races: "I got my second victory in the Busch Series here. I don't know why I've had so much success here. As far as the key to victory, you need a car that turns real good and gets good bite up off the corners without getting too loose. If you can do that, you won't be too bad. You have to get the tire strategy right. Last time we thought we had the right strategy. I knew those other cars with new tires would be quick but our times hadn't fallen off and you can't go too far wrong if you follow Mark Martin. We followed him and there wasn't enough time to get back up to the front. Nothing you can do about that now. This time we won't let that happen." Qualifying: "We thought we had a good car last weekend and didn't make the show. It's going to be tough this weekend. Making these shows is tough. We have missed some races like Las Vegas and Darlington this year and almost won some races like Richmond and New Hampshire. It's feast or famine in the Busch Series." Friday's Race will be televised by ESPN2 - 7:30 p.m.