Welcome to Minnie's Steve Park Fan Page. Steve Park is currently Driving the #1 Penzoil Chevy for Dale Earnhardt INC. This page is in no way affiliated to Steve Park, Dale Earnhardt, Pennzoil, or any other sponsor. This page was made to pay tribute to Steve Park. By a fan for other fans to enjoy.

STEVE PARK WINS AT THE GLEN

STEVE PARK WINS AT ROCKINGHAM

Recent News

Following a six-month recovery period, Steve Park will return to the No. 1 Pennzoil Chevrolet Monte Carlo at the Carolina 400 at Darlington Raceway on March 17th. Motorsport.com

Articles and Stories

Mar 19, 2002 Steve Park's Dissapointing/Successful Comeback SpeedwayMedia.com

Mar 17, 2002 Park returns to Darlington Raceway Morning News

Seeing clearly, Park ready for racing return The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

March 9, 2002 Competitors eagerly await Park's return NOL

March 8, 2002 Park to come back at site of accident Thats Racing

March 9, 2002 Park back at Darlington Richmond Times

Race Summary

Darlington

Long Island Native Steve Park returned to the Winston Cup Series six months after a crash sidelined him with a head injury.

"It's really good to be back. It was nerve-wracking. I think the hard part is behind us," notes Park who drives the Pennzoil Chevy owned by Dale Earnhardt Incorporated.

Park continues, "obviously I was nervous, but I was excited too. I've been racing since I was 10 so it was like getting back to normal. The team and the sponsors have stuck by me and maybe this is a small reward for them."

Park was injured at the Fall Busch Grand National race at Darlington in a freak accident. While the field returned to competition following a red flag, his steering wheel failed to lock, and came off. He lost control of his car and drove into the path of an on-coming Larry Foyt. The resulting impact and head Injury had Park out of the car with post concussion syndrome and suffering from blurred vision.

This was not the first time the two time Winston Cup winner has been unable to compete as a result of on track injuries. In 1998, following a crash during practice at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Park sat out 15 races.

Park who has been medically cleared to return to racing feels the recovery process in on going. "It's not the last step for me. I've earned the right to be here today. And that was through hard work. We finally worked our way up where I felt comfortable coming to Darlington just to fill the field. I felt that I was recovered enough to qualify good and race good on Sunday. We're not out of the woods yet. To race Darlington this week and Bristol next week are two of the hardest tracks to race on."

Park, who raced at the track that he was injured, saw the Irony of returning at Darlington: "It's kind of ironic to get hurt here and then come back here. We didn't really plan that; it just fell into the right time line that we had set for ourselves. I'm not going to let an injury overshadow how much I love coming here and racing here."

Ricky Craven, whose career was impacted by a head injury, was a great deal of help to Park during the recovery process.

"It was nice to be able to talk to him, (Craven) and know what he has been through. It makes me feel like I'm not on this island all by myself. There are other people out there too."

Park spent his off time working hard to return, as new teammate Kenny Wallace drove the Pennzoil Chevrolet,

"I can't think of a better guy than Kenny Wallace to take my place. He did a fantastic job. To represent our sponsors and race the car as hard as he did - I'm thankful for that. You have to remember one thing. I'm a racecar driver so I'm not good at patience. Pennzoil and Teresa Earnhardt stuck by me and gave me the opportunity to heal and come back on my own schedule."

Park who qualified forth for the Sunday Race at Darlington quickly charged to the front of the field, taking the lead on lap 19 A lead that ended early as Park got caught up in lapped traffic and slammed the wall on lap 39 after making contact with Stacy Compton. Park returned to the race finishing 39th, 166 laps down.

About Steve

Steve's racing career began at a young age. He grew up in a racing family. His father Bob Park raced Modified cars. Steve started racing go-carts around the age of 10. As time went on he moved into bigger vehicles. By the age of 16 he was racing 4 cylinders. His first big break came when he was 17. His dad couldn't make it to a qualifying event. So he asked Steve to qualify the car for him. Which was no easy task, Because he had to race his way into the field. He had to race 8 other cars for 6 spots. In Steve's first race he took that 6th spot. Steve says," you could tell dad was pleased." Steve started his own modified career in 1986. Steve owned his own car and team up until 1989. Improving each year in the series. He won his first modified race in 1988. The next year in 89 he won 5 more races. But Steve wanted to race in the Winston Cup Series some day. So he sold his modified equipment and car and bought a used Busch car. That winter he and his dad worked on the car getting it ready. The following spring they brought their car to Daytona. To try and get into the race. Steve missed making the race by one spot. It was a big let down for the young Park. He knew he had to keep going. Being without a sponsor he took what little money he had and made a video to send out to potential sponsors. But had very little luck. Steve made a few more races here and there. Finally at the New Hampshire speedway he blew an engine. Being totally out of money. That marked the end of the road for Steve. He went back home and started hanging out at the tracks. One day modified owner Curt Chase noticed Park hanging around and asks him to drive in a race for him. That one race in 1990 led to a full time ride in 91. Where he once again found victory lane. This time at Riverhead speedway. Steve spent 2 seasons driving for Chase. The following year 1993, he started driving for T.G. racing. He had good success in the 2 years he spent racing for them. In 93 he won 4 times and in 94 he won 10 more times. 1995 would prove to be Steve's best year to date. He went to drive for Sheba racing. He won 7 races that year, was voted most popular driver on the modified tour, and won the Busch pole champ. Award a record 10 times. He came in 2nd place in the point standings. The 96 season prove to be another big season for Steve. This is the year that would change Steve's life. He was once again behind the wheel of the Sheba featherlite Modified car. He would win 5 times there. Once again Steve would finish 2nd in the points standings. Steve also ran 11 races in the Busch North Series. He won 2 times their once at Nazareth & once at New Hampshire. But Steve's big breaks were just around the corner. He was asked to run a truck in the Craftsman Truck Series at Indianapolis. He started his truck in the 11th spot and went on to finish in 11th place. Joe Nemechek asks Steve to qualify his truck at Watkins Glen while he was in Bristol. Steve put Joe's truck on the pole for the race. This was going to be the break he needed. People had been watching Steve. Including Dale Earnhardt. One summer day in 96 Steve received a phone call from Dale Earnhardt. Steve being very busy at that time didn't pay to much attention to the tape on his answering machine. Steve went away for a few day all the while thinking one of his friends were playing a trick on him. He returned home to find another call from Dale on his machine. This time he thought he had better check this out. So he called his mom, who was a big Dale Earnhardt fan. He played the message for his mom. His mom replied " that's him, that's Dale Earnhardt." So Steve decided he had better call back. A plane came up to the airport and brought Steve to North Carolina. The rest is history. Steve was asked if he would like to drive for his Busch team for the 97 season. So when the 97 season started Steve was Behind the Wheel of the #3 AC Delco Chevy. Steve had a great rookie year. In 30 starts he won 3 times a new rookie record. He also broke rookie records for most top 5's with 12 and most top 10's with 20. Steve also had 1 pole award to go with his impressive stats. Steve went on to capture the rookie of the year award. He finished the year 3rd in points being beat out by Todd Bodine in the final race of the season. Dale asked Steve if he want to move up to the Winston Cup Series for 98. Steve accepted and was put behind the wheel of the #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo. He was to once again challenge for the rookie of the year award. This time he would be challenged by Kevin Lepage, Jerry Nadeau, & Kenny Irwin. Steve headed to Daytona to try and put his rookie team into the Great American Race. Steve's car was not fast enough to make it in the first round so he attempted 2nd round qualifying, setting a very good speed. Steve took his place in line for the twin 125's but got caught up in a wreck. Luckily Steve had the fastest time in 2nd round to get him into the race. Steve had finally made it. His luck in the race wasn't as good for him though. Steve would finish Daytona in 41st place, leaving with ignition problems. Steve made the Rockingham race. He missed Lads Vegas. Then onto Atlanta. Steve was on the track finishing up his practice laps when something let go in the front end of the car. Steve slammed into the outside wall a couple of times, finally coming to rest against the pit road bearer. Steve suffered A broken right femur, left collarbone, and right shoulder. Steve only sat out 15 races healing up. He made a very nice comeback at the Brickyard. It was so nice to see Steve back out on the track were he belongs. Steve went on to continue his rookie season perhaps taking the biggest rookie lumps of all. As the final Nascar season of this decade gets under way, we wish you much success.