Steve Park Rules!

Steve Park Pre-Race Report - NHIS

Sylvania 200
New Hampshire International Speedway, Sept. 18, 2004

Source: Orleans Racing
Kimberly Meesters
Date: 09/14/2004

LAS VEGAS, Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2004 – The following pre-race notes, quotes and statistics are for Steve Park, driver of the No. 62 Orleans Dodge in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, prior to the Sylvania 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway Sept. 18.

PRE-RACE NOTES:

The Sylvania 200 will mark the 75th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start for Orleans Racing. In the team's five seasons, two starts were with Scott Lynch, 18 with Park and 55 with Brendan Gaughan.

This will be Park's 15th start at New Hampshire International Speedway in one of NASCAR top-three divisions. He has two top-five finishes and six top-10 finishes.

Park started second and finished fourth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at New Hampshire in 1996, his only truck series start at New Hampshire.

Park will drive the No. 00 Whelen Dodge in the Sylvania 100 NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series Friday, Sept. 17 at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Park will sign autographs at noon Friday, Sept. 17 at the Big Johnson merchandise trailer at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Park is 12th in points. He finished 27th in Daytona, 12th in Atlanta, 26th in Martinsville, 27th in Mansfield, 12th in Charlotte, 13th in Dover, 10th at Texas, 11th at Memphis, fourth at Milwaukee, fourth at Kansas, sixth at Kentucky, 31st at Gateway, 17th at Michigan, 22nd at Indy, fifth at Nashville, ninth at Bristol and 12th at Richmond.

PRE-RACE QUOTE FROM STEVE PARK: “The way I look at it New Hampshire is really what put me on the map. For a guy from Long Island who raced in New England, we never had a premier racetrack to showcase talent until they built New Hampshire International Speedway. I raced Busch North and modifieds there, and I really hold it responsible for getting me in front of Earnhardt. It gave me an opportunity to meet Childress and Earnhardt, and most people know the story from there. I grew up racing the short tracks of Long Island and New England, but I consider New Hampshire my home track. It is a place where I love to race and hold truly responsible for the success I've had.”

(About racing modifieds at New Hampshire this weekend): “I think it makes the weekend more exciting. I've always said that when I could get back in a modified, I wanted it to be at New Hampshire. Once I stepped out of a modified I wasn't really allowed to race them again because of sponsor obligations. But when the modified race was on the track I would get on top of the motor home or hauler and watch the modified race. It is one of the best races on the track. It makes my hair stand up because I love racing modifieds at New Hampshire . We built a brand new Dodge to take there. With a permission slip from Mr. Gaughan, we were able to put this team together with old friends of mine. Whelen is sponsoring the car. They used to sponsor my modified and Busch cars. Joe Brady is the guy I used to drive for years ago. He has remained a friend of mine. He is the owner. Joe goes back in the history of modified racing in New Hampshire. Everyone in that area knows of him. It is an honor to reunite with him and Whelen and a lot of my friends. It is going to be an all around great experience and a lot of fun. The last time I raced a modified was probably 1995, I think.”