Steve Park is returning, Haas/Carter feels the heat, and the MBNA America 500 from Hampton, Georgia.
Park Set to Return...........
Steve Park is getting ready to sample a hair from the dog that bit him. He's planning on taking back the driving duties next weekend at Darlington in the No. 1 Pennzoil sponsored Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI) Chevrolet Month Carlo. In case some of you may have forgotten, Park fell victim to serious brain injuries in the Busch Series race at Darlington Raceway last fall. The freak accident was the result of his steering wheel coming off while he was weaving back and forth on the track heating up and cleaning off his tires prior to a restart. Without the steering, the car suddenly veered to the left in the path of Larry Foyt, who was running hard on the inside of the lined up racecars to take his place at the front of the lap down restart line. Parks car was T-boned by Foyt's with an impact so hard that caused Parks car to leap off of the ground.
When Park suffered his injuries last September, DEI hired Kenny Wallace to finish out the 2001 season in the No. 1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo. As the 2002 season approached it appeared that Park would not be ready to return to the drivers' seat for the seasoning opening Daytona 500. Kenny Wallace was again hired by DEI under a one year contract. He was contracted to drive the No. 1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo until Park's return, then was promised a ride with DEI for the remainder of the 2002 season.
Now that it appears that Park is facing an imminent return to the driver's seat, it remains to be seen how the deal with Kenny Wallace will be approached by DEI. One account that I recently read as the news came out about Park's return, had Wallace in a Busch Series car for DEI for the remainder of the 2002 season. Problem is, Wallace already has a Busch Series ride in the No. 48 Stacker 2 sponsored Innovative Motorsports' Chevrolet. Apparently, he will still remain on contract with DEI, but just will not have a car to drive. Ty Norris, a senior vice president with DEI, claims that there have been sponsors contacting DEI offering to sponsor a fourth car for Wallace. Norris claims that DEI would really like to do this, but they lack the personnel and room to add on another car to their three car operation. So, at the present time, Wallace's Winston Cup future remains in limbo. I feel that the fact that there are sponsors out there who want to back Kenny Wallace with DEI, just shows how delicate the sponsorship situation is. Corporations do not have problems with backing proven teams and drivers. I also feel that it is strange that other teams like Haas/Carter Motorsports and Andy Petree Racing are having such a hard time locating sponsorship. Could it be that they are asking for too much too soon?
 |
