February 16, 2003

Rumors are circulating early around Winston Cup driver Steve Park, who drives the No. 1 Pennzoil Chevrolet for D.E.I.

It has been reported that D.E.I. has given Park until April of this season to prove himself worthy of his ride for the upcoming 2004 season.

Rumors circulated in the 2002 season for both Park and his teammate Michael Waltrip, who drives the No. 15 NAPA Chevrolet, regarding their lack of performance and the talk of possibility of not renewing their contracts with D.E.I. because of that.

Park continued to struggle, although some of the bad luck he experienced was due partly to engine problems and unforeseen accidents not directly his fault. Michael on the hand, stepped up his performance and ended the season with a 14th place finish. As a result of the efforts and success Waltrip showed, he also walked away with a 2 year extension on his contract. Park was given a 1 year extension on his, but with the conditions that he would have to perform up to expectations in the 2003 season.

I believe that the rumors beginning before the green flag falls at Daytona is a bit premature. Park tested well at Daytona and his qualifying run on Sunday was 17th fastest.

For those readers and the new fans that don't know, Park was injured in September of 2001 driving in the Busch Series at the Darlington track in South Carolina. He sustained severe head injuries during a caution. Park's car veered to the left when the steering wheel came off in hands while trying to adjust it. Larry Foyt was driving fast to get caught up with lapped cars, and plowed into Park's car, directly in the driver side door area.

The head injuries resulted in him missing 16 races, but was able to return to driving towards the end of the 2001 season.

Upon returning, it was clear there were some side effects from the injuries that Park sustained. His speech seemed slightly impaired and he was involved in a few wrecks that left many wondering if he was fully healed and could handle the dangers of driving a car at nearly 200 mph.

However, after seeing the results from the testing at Daytona, and his qualifying efforts thus far leaving many fans believing Park is more than ready to drive that Pennzoil Chevrolet into victory lane, and soon.

Many fans feel that NASCAR racing will not be the same without Park in that Chevrolet Pennzoil car. D.E.I. has much empathy for Park and the injury he sustained, but having empathy and operating a company, an owner has to do what's best for both the driver and the business.

If Park loses his ride with D.E.I. it's hoped that another owner will pick him up. Many NASCAR fans see the drive that Park has in not giving up, and the strength he has shown us all since his injury, has been one that none of us will ever forget.

Many fans and not just the fans of Park, are hoping that he will prove himself for a ride with D.E.I for the 2004 season, that will result him with not a one year contract, but a rock solid 2 year contract.

It is no secret in NASCAR that if a driver doesn't perform up to the car owner or sponsors expectations, their future with both is jeopardized. However, rumors that circle around a driver has an effect on how they drive. The drivers know already what the results will be if their performance is not up to standard. Why add the stress of making this public, before the first race of the season?

Why make this public knowledge at all?

Such conditions for a driver may be necessary, but it should be done behind closed doors and left to the driver to make sure he provides results. The 2003 season is just getting started, and Steve Park hasn't even been given the chance to make a valid attempt at saving his job before the dark cloud of rumors hover over him.

There is an increasing problem that fans have noticed between the car owner and the driver. Many contracts are broken before they are carried out. At the beginning of 2002, we saw Elliott Sadler break his contract with the Wood Brothers before it was over. Chip Ganassi also broke a verbal contract with Jimmy Spencer stating that he would have a ride for the 2003 season, and with only 2 races left in the 2002 season his verbal contract was terminated.

As a NASCAR fan myself I strongly believe in seeing a contract through to the very end. Contracts should be negotiated during the off season and sealed by the beginning of the next season. Even if a driver is hired on in mid-season, that contract should run until the end of that season, or to the end of the next season, but not end in the middle of a season.

The drivers with these contracts hovering over them during the season, are not going to drive to the best of their ability for fear of losing their ride. This is not fair to the drivers, nor the fans of NASCAR.

You can contact Denise at: Insider Racing News