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Dover Pre Race Notes and Quotes
STEVE PARK PRE-RACE NOTES & QUOTES
MBNA America 200
Dover International Speedway, June 4, 2004
Source: Orleans Racing
Kimberly Meesters
Date: 06/02/2004
LAS VEGAS, Tuesday, June 1, 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 MBNA America 200 at Dover International Speedway June 4.
PRE-RACE NOTES:
Park’s best finish at Dover International Speedway is second in the NEXTEL Cup Series in June of 2001. This will be his first start at Dover in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Park has five top-five finishes and seven top-10 finish at Dover in 15 starts, 10 of which where in the NEXTEL Cup Series and five in the NASCAR Busch Series.
This will be the third start for Orleans Racing at Dover and the 63rd Craftsman Truck Series start for the team. Park is 21st in points after five races. He finished 27th in Daytona, 12th in Atlanta, 26th in Martinsville, 27th in Mansfield and 12th in Charlotte.
Charlie Wilson, crew chief for Orleans Racing’s NASCAR Grand National West Series Dodge driven by Scott Lynch, is the interim crew chief at Dover. Wilson, of Bakersfield, Calif., led the Winston West team to a championship in 2003, Lynch’s rookie season in the series. That same year, he served as crew chief for Lynch’s only Craftsman Truck Series starts, Las Vegas and Homestead. Lynch finished 12th in both events.
Dover and New Hampshire are the closest races on the Craftsman Truck Series circuit to Park’s hometown of East Northport, New York near New York City.
Park’s first start at Dover came in September of 1995 when he qualified 37th and finished 27th in the NASCAR Busch race. He was driving for Ted Kistner and Specialized Transportation. The team was assembled from a group of modified races for one race that season. Tommy Baldwin Jr., who is now Kasey Kahne’s crew chief, served as the crew chief and Kevin Manion, who is now Martin Truex Jr.’s crew chief, was the car chief.
Team Dover Results:
Year/Race Series Team Start Finish Status
May, 2003 NCTS Brendan Gaughan 4 18 Accident
May, 2002 NCTS Brendan Gaughan 13 7 Running
Park Dover Results:
Year/Race Series Team Start Finish Status
September, 2003 NNCS Richard Childress 32 26 Running
June, 2003 NNCS Richard Childress 10 32 Running
September, 2002 NNCS Dale Earnhardt Inc. 10 26 Running
June, 2002 NNCS Dale Earnhardt Inc. 22 39 Running
June, 2001 NNCS Dale Earnhardt Inc. 9 2 Running
June, 2001 NBS Teddy Marsh 38 5 Running
September, 2000 NNCS Dale Earnhardt Inc. 28 4 Running
September, 2000 NBS Teddy Marsh 34 9 Running
June, 2000 NNCS Dale Earnhardt Inc. 17 19 Running
September, 1999 NNCS Dale Earnhardt Inc. 10 9 Running
June, 1999 NNCS Dale Earnhardt Inc. 31 16 Running
September, 1998 NNCS Dale Earnhardt Inc. 13 11 Running
September, 1997 NBS Dale Earnhardt Inc. 17 5 Running
May, 1997 NBS Dale Earnhardt Inc. 13 5 Running
September, 1995 NBS Ted Kistner 37 27 Running
PRE-RACE QUOTES:
STEVE PARK:
Thoughts on Dover International Speedway: “I’m looking forward to it. It is great having time off between races, but it nice to just have one week off instead of a whole month. I am ready to get back to racing. I love to race at Dover. I am coming off a dismal weekend from not qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600. It makes me look forward to getting back with my team and a competitive truck. I just like racing at Dover. The Monster Mile has its name for a reason. You continually race the racetrack; you never race another truck. If you can conquer the track, you will find yourself at the front of the pack. As soon as you get away from racing the track and you start racing the other trucks, you get yourself in trouble.”
Comments on racing closer to home state of New York: “We have lots of fans in that part of the country. I think Dover is about three or four hours from my where I grew up in New York. The race gives me a chance to see a lot of friends from back home. It seems like as many friends and family members come to Dover as New Hampshire.”
Comments on recent changes in personnel and search for a crew chief: “I really think this team is moving forward and making progress. I really think we are close on figuring out what we need speed-wise for qualifying. If not for Dover, we are working hard for Texas. We are going to test Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Texas World Speedway to prepare for the race at Texas Motor Speedway. I am excited about the changes that we are making, and I enjoy working with Charlie Wilson. I also really appreciate the help Shane Wilson has given us. He is very busy with his job as crew chief of Brendan’s Cup team, but he still helps as much as he can.”
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