NASCAR Cup
Park to defend Watlins Glen title
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Heading back to his home state of New York this weekend holds a special meaning for the young Steve Park, piloting the ...
Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Heading back to his home state of New York this weekend holds a special meaning for the young Steve Park, piloting the #1 Pennzoil Chevrolet as he defends the first race title in his NASCAR Winston Cup career during the Global Crossing at the Glen this coming Sunday.
"It was just a dream come true and I don't understand why things happen sometimes other than the good Lord looking down on us and blessing us," said Park, who hails from Long Island. "But I couldn't have picked a better place to get my first win than Watkins Glen. Being a New York native, that' s the place I wanted to win.
"What most people don't realize is that Watkins Glen is one of the Winston Cup tracks that I have the most experience on," continued Park, competing in the Northeast early in his racing career. "So as weird or crazy as it seemed to get our first win on a road course, I love road racing. I've been to three different road race schools, and ever since I first drove Watkins Glen, I just feel in love with the track and road racing. So I think as much as a surprise that it comes to some people, with the limited amount of experience I had last year on a lot of tracks that we go to, Watkins Glen and New Hampshire are probably the tracks that I have the most experience on and that really helped getting that first win."
Winning that first victory in just his 77th Winston Cup start, Park has completed all but two laps in his four outings on the 2.45-mile road course and, since that time 34 races ago, the 33-year-old driver continues to make huge strides in his Winston Cup career. This season, Park has already posted one win and three second-place finishes to earn $1 million more than at this time last year and currently sits 11th in the points standings, whereas last year heading into Watkins Glen, he was 17th.
"I think anytime you win it builds momentum in the team and think gives us all the confidence to know that we are capable of winning," added Park, who starts in his 112th Winston Cup event this weekend. "After that point, I told the guys that we were no longer going to the track as competitors but winners. It gives everybody the added confidence when we go to the track each weekend to know that we are capable of winning."
Not intimidated by the road course "experts" who typically attempt to qualify for these type of races, Park will prepare for the Glen in the same fashion he does each race.
"We'll approach Watkins Glen like we do every week," continued Park, who is now 11th in the points standings. "We'll prepare to the best of our abilities and test as much as we can. If you look at past races with all the road course experts, it still seems like it's a Winston Cup regular to that has the opportunity to run up front and win at the end of the Glen. I think every week is a daunting task and we're just going to approach it like we do every week, just prepare to the best of our ability and drive our heart out."
The 90-lap event is scheduled to get underway on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. EDT with Park fighting off the other Winston Cup drivers to defend his title and put the Pennzoil Chevrolet back into victory lane.
-PR
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Steve Park Indianapolis notes
Next article Atwwod gears up for Watkins Glen run
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Steve Park
Daytona cancels 'Battle at the Beach' for 2015
NASCAR
NASCAR
Daytona cancels 'Battle at the Beach' for 2015
Stevenson Motorsports closes GRANDAM era with a CTSCC second place at Lime Rock Park
Grand-Am
Grand-Am
Stevenson Motorsports closes GRANDAM era with a CTSCC second place at Lime Rock Park
Danica Patrick using Texas as jump start for 2013
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Danica Patrick using Texas as jump start for 2013
Latest news
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
3 h
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
4 h
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
4 h
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
5 h
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe