BUSCH: Steve Park returns to Busch Series

Steve Park will be returning to the NASCAR Busch Series for the first time in 18 months, after suffering serious injuries during a Busch race at Darlington Raceway. Chance 2 and Steve Park will team up for five races for the 2003 season beginning in Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the #8 Maxwell House Chevrolet.

Park started driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 1997, emerging from the Northeast Modified Series. His NASCAR Busch Series rookie season in the #3 ACDelco Chevrolet, Park had three wins and four second place finishes, ending the year third in 1997 Busch Series point standings. Park left the Busch Series where he continues to drive full time in the Winston Cup Series for Dale Earnhardt Inc. for the 1998 season.

Crew Chief Kevin Manion and Park have been close friends for years. Manion moved from New York to Mooresville, N.C in 1996, and one year later he was working on Park's Busch team. When Park went to race in the Winston Cup Series, Manion moved with him as the car chief on the No. 1 Pennzoil team. Until this season the two have been together daily over the past six years. It will be like old times in Las Vegas for the two of them.

"It seems we both went full circle, working in the Modified Series together, moving to different states, working at DEI, now we are back together again for five races." says Manion. "I am really looking forward to the Las Vegas race, it's going to be a lot of fun."

Co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. will step out of the driver's seat to take on the responsibilities of being a car owner.

"I am really pumped up about sitting on top of the pit box, now I can get a new appreciation for what the guys do during the race, says Earnhardt Jr. "I will be able to learn what it's like to be on the other side of the wall."

This is the first time in over a decade that Dale Jr. has watched a race from the pit box. He feels it is important for him to be up there supporting Park, Manion, and the team.

This is the third race for Chance 2 Motorsports since its creation. Richmond and Daytona were the first two races for Chance 2, with victories in both, with co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. driving the car. Chance 2 Motorsports was created in August of 2002 by Teresa Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr., for research and development; and so Dale Jr. can race more restrictor plate races. Chance 2 is currently scheduled to run eight NASCAR Busch Series races and three NASCAR Winston Cup races this season.

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