Parker Brothers Not Playing Games in Milwaukee

CONCORD, N.C. (June 26) - It's going to be a "family affair" at Sunday's GNC Live Well 250 NASCAR Busch Series (NBS) race.

NBS regular Hank Parker Jr. will get the chance to compete against his younger brother, Billy "Catfish" Parker, in the July 1 event at The Milwaukee Mile.

As he has done all season, Hank, 26, will pilot the No. 36 GNC Live Well Chevrolet for Cicci-Welliver Racing, while younger brother Billy, 24, will make his first start of 2001 in the No. 15 GNC Mega MenŽ Supplement Ford for ppc Racing.

This is only the second time the two drivers have competed against each other in a NASCAR event. The two faced off for the first time last October in the Sam's Town 250 NBS event at Memphis Motorsports Park.

For Hank, who started third and finished seventh in last year's Milwaukee event, the opportunity to once again battle his brother greatly heightens his anticipation going into this weekend.

"I can't wait to get on the track with him," Parker Jr. said of his younger sibling. "I think he and I will have a blast racing each other. Billy's a very talented driver and a very serious competitor. He's sacrificed a lot for this chance, I'm really happy he's getting to showcase his talents. I think he's going to impress a lot of people on Sunday."

Given how impressive ppc Racing has been in the past two seasons, fielding cars for defending NBS Champion Jeff Green and perennial frontrunner Jason Keller, Billy could certainly be a contender in Sunday's event. Assisting the young driver will be Ronnie Silvers from Michael Waltrip Racing, along with several members of the No. 10 and No. 57 teams. Pit road duties will be handled by the pit crew from the No. 2 Ultra Motorsports Craftsman Truck team of Scott Riggs.

While a top-five finish or a win in only his second NBS start would be a dream come true, making a good impression is the primary goal on Billy's mind. For the younger brother, who normally spends his days as a mechanic on the Jeff Green's car, Sunday's race is about qualifying well, staying out of trouble and being around at the end.

"We're going into this race with the attitude that we have a shot to win it," a determined Parker said. "To be successful, I think you always have to think that way. But, if we don't have a car that can win, I want to be as competitive as possible and get experience and seat time. I appreciate the opportunity ppc Racing is giving me, and I want to give them as good a finish as possible."

Billy Parker impressed a lot of people, including his brother, in his very first NASCAR Busch Series outing. Last fall, Parker scored a top-10 starting spot (eighth) in the Sam's Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park, driving a car owned by Rick Rathbun. In fact, the newcomer qualified better than his older brother, who managed a 12th-place start.

"That was pretty cool," Billy remembered. "We didn't do too great in the race, but I felt like I had accomplished something by making the field to begin with."

Carrying nearly identical paint schemes for Team Marines Racing, the two brothers finished 34th (Hank) and 35th (Billy) in that event.

As they did in the Memphis race, the Parker brothers will share a primary sponsor at The Milwaukee Mile. General Nutrition Centers (GNC Live Well), Hank's primary sponsor and the title sponsor of the GNC Live Well 250, will sponsor Billy's entry to promote its Mega Men Multiple Vitamin and Mineral Supplement.

Parker hopes that a good showing in this event will help attract potential sponsors, allowing the young driver to compete in more events this season and beyond.

"I want to race more than anything in this world," Parker emphasized. "It's hard to go to the track every week and work on cars when you'd rather be driving. My goal is to make racing my career. I couldn't be with a better organization than ppc Racing, now we just need to show some sponsors what we're capable of."

While their competitive natures drive them to outdo each other on the track, don't expect to see any incidents of sibling rivalry in Sunday's event. The Parker brothers are extremely close, so much so that the two recently became roommates, renting a house near their hometown of Denver, N.C.

"Catfish and I are tight," Hank said. "He's more than just a brother, he's one of my best friends. He kind of put his career on hold to help me, especially when I was running in the (NASCAR Slim Jim) All-Pro Series, so I owe him big time. I can't wait to see him back on the track, because I know how talented he is. I'm his biggest fan."

The GNC Live Well 250 will air live on the FX Network this Sunday, July 1, at 2 p.m. EDT. Pre-race coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

General Nutrition Companies, Inc. (GNC), based in Pittsburgh, is the largest nationwide specialty retailer of vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements, sports nutrition as well as many personal care and related products. GNC operates more than 4,500 retail outlets throughout the United States and 26 foreign markets including Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico. GNC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Numico, N.V., a worldwide market leader in specialized nutrition that includes infant and clinical nutrition and nutritional supplements. Headquartered in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands, Royal Numico's operations include manufacturing facilities in more than 50 countries and research facilities in The Netherlands, Germany, the U.K. and Australia. In addition to GNC, Royal Numico's family of companies includes Rexall Sundown, Inc., a major supplier to the mass market based in Boca Raton, Fla., sports nutrition leaders Met-Rx and Worldwide Nutrition and the multi-level marketing operation of Enrich International.