DEI and RCR Get Silly Season Started - "Operation Green Park"
By: Andy Kondratick
After Park's wreck a friend of mine leaned into my shoulder and said, "You think he (Park) is done?"
I replied with a hearty, "Oh Yeah. He is done."
My friend then asked, "Do you think he will finish out the season with DEI?"
I replied, "He will be lucky to make it out of the track."
There has been a lot of talk about the Steve Park situation at DEI as well as the Jeff Green and RCR fallout. I have to say that I am not surprised. It was common knowledge in the garage that Green was not happy about RCR and the way that the teams were not working together. It was also no surprise that Park's head was on the DEI chopping block. I am, however, very surprised they gave him this long before they released him. Some people who really don't know how NASCAR works thought that the move was wrong and DEI didn't give Steve Park a fair shot. Well, if you only have two wins after six seasons, it is time to find another ride.
Green said he thought it was basically a one car team with two tag along kid brothers at RCR. After Harvick spun Green out at RIR, Green marched up pit-lane toward Harvick's pit. He was stopped by Childress and was told not to make a scene, go cool off, and they would talk about it later. Green didn't follow Richard's advice and said his piece to the man himself. After the race was over so was the RCR - Jeff Green employment. Steve Park was handed his walking papers on the same day as Jeff Green.
I believe that RCR and DEI got together and decided that they had done all that they could with these drivers in their organization. They made a wise decision when they swapped drivers in my opinion. It killed two birds with one stone, so to speak.
First, it provided them both with drivers for their now vacant seats and second, it gave both drivers jobs. Both teams and drivers get a new look at the current situation and gives them a chance to show what they really have with different input. In other words, it gave the teams a new start. Not to mention, it gets both owners out of a potential problem with backlash from the fans.
I say it is a good move. Green gets what he wants with teammates that care, and Park gets what he wants with a chance to get out from under a loaded gun. Everyone thinks Park lost his edge and can't cut it anymore because of the injuries suffered in his life-threatening crash. They compare him to the likes of Ernie Irvin. I say hog wash. You better watch out for Ole' Steve Park. I believe you will see him succeed with a win real soon now that he is with RCR. It could be a soon as he hits the track again. Call me crazy but I think Park still has what it takes. He just needed to get with the right team.
This has been just one race fans opinion. - Rogue Reporter Andy
E-mail me at roguereporter@comcast.net
May 10, 2003 -
This past weekend I was on assignment in Richmond Virginia for the Pontiac Excitement 400 with several friends and co-workers. I was in the infield and on pit-road all weekend and I have to tell you that when Steve Park wrecked, there was lots to be said and it wasn't good.