 |
Drivers Jump At Chance To Go Camping Again At The Glen
Turning Right And Left Is A Walk In The Park For NASCAR Veteran
Due to the rapid evolution of the NASCAR Camping World Series East since its last appearance at Watkins Glen International in 2004, no current full-time series driver has experienced a series win there.
However, one full-time driver, Steve Park, 40, of East Northport, N.Y., knows what it feels like to be in Victory Lane at The Glen.
Park scored his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at the New York road course. As one of the first drivers the late Dale Earnhardt personally pursued to drive for his new Dale Earnhardt, Inc. team, Park rewarded his owner with the victory in 2000.
“Go fast, turn left, and right, that’s what Watkins Glen is all about,” Park said. “I love going to Watkins Glen or any road course. It changes things up. We’re so used to turning left. I love to go there.”
He also knows the guys to beat will be the guys who share his delight in racing there.
“I just have to concentrate on the guys that really like being there,” Park said. “Our main thing is what Earnhardt told me a long time ago, ‘Keep the brakes and transmission under you and you’ll come out with a good finish.’ We’ll try to do that and see what we’ve got with 10 or 15 to go. If we’re anywhere near the top five, we’re definitely going to be looking for a win.”
Park has raced at his home-state track in all three national series: NASCAR Camping World Series East (second to Andy Santerre in 1996) and even the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
“We had a big lead in a Modified race and broke the snout of the crankshaft. It was pretty interesting. The Modifieds had never run on a road course before. It gave us a whole new set of challenges.
“I think it’s a great place to race in a great part of the country. Being from New York, it’s like going home for me.”
from Nascar.com
|
|
 |
|
|
|
