Steve Park

Stephen Brian Park (born August 23, 1967) is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He won races in NASCAR's two top Northeast touring series (Modified and K&N East) and all three national divisions (Truck, Busch, Cup Series). Park was born in East Northport, New York as the youngest of four sons.

Park began racing not in an entry-level class, but in NASCAR Modifieds on Long Island for longtime National Modified Championship contender Bob Park. After establishing himself in weekly Modified racing at Riverhead Raceway, he advanced to the Featherlite Modified Series. He won several races and became a championship contender before moving on to the Busch Series. He won twice in NASCAR's highest division, but two serious injuries impacted his Cup Series career.

NASCAR career 1996–1997 Park was first hired by seven-time Winston Cup Champion Dale Earnhardt in 1996. Initially, Park refused to return Dale's phone messages, who was calling with interest in hiring Park, thinking his friends were pranking him. However, after finally being convinced that the real Dale Earnhardt was calling him, Park made one start in the No. 31 Busch Series (later the Xfinity Series) car in Charlotte in October that resulted in a 29th place finish. Park was then given a full-time ride in Earnhardt's No. 3 AC-Delco-sponsored car for the 1997 season. Throughout the season, Park posted three wins at Nashville, Michigan, and Richmond, walking away with Rookie of the Year honors with a third-place finish in the final points standings.

1997–1999 Park came to the Winston Cup Series (later the NASCAR Cup Series) as the driver for the No. 14 team of Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) in 1997. He attempted eight races in this car, qualifying for four of them. He also ran a race in the No. 40 car at Martinsville Speedway for Felix Sabates. In the 1998 season, Park switched to the No. 1 Chevrolet for DEI and drove the first two races, but he failed to qualify at the third race of the year at Las Vegas. During practice for the fourth event of the year at Atlanta, Park suffered a tire failure and had three hard hits before his car came to rest. He sustained a broken leg, broken collarbone, broken shoulder blade, and two chipped front teeth. Park returned later in the year at Indianapolis and ran the rest of the year. He posted a best finish of eleventh at Michigan and Dover. While under caution, his steering wheel came off, causing him to yank a hard left. At the same time, Larry Foyt was speeding up to join the front for the restart, and he rammed the driver side of Park's car. Fortunately, neither drivers were injured and Park and Jr. walked with each other to the waiting ambulance to the infield care center. The race had a 65-minute red flag to repair the old-fashioned guardrail highway barrier that Park hit. On August 1, 2009, he won the Edge Hotel 150 at Adirondack International Speedway. It was his first East Series win since July 1, 1996 at Nazareth Speedway.

In 2010, Park returned again to race in the East Series. Park also drove the numbers 46 and 41 Vandyk Baler Corp/ Bollegraaf Toyotas in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Eddie Sharp Racing in 2010 for three races (two in the 41 and one in the 46), with a best finish of eighteenth at Chicagoland Speedway.

Park returned to the Sprint Cup Series in July 2010, driving the No. 36 Chevrolet for Tommy Baldwin Racing. In his first Sprint Cup Series race in several years, Park started the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona from the 39th position, as qualifying was rained out. He went on to finish thirteenth and led one lap. Park's fan-sponsored car was painted to honor Richie Evans, a nine-time NASCAR Modified champion who was killed in a racing accident shortly after winning his final championship in 1985.

2011 Park ran one race for Tommy Baldwin Racing at Talladega, however he retired from the race after completing only four laps in a start and park effort. He also attempted the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway later that year, but he failed to qualify. The fan-sponsored New Hampshire car was intended to honor six-time Modified Series champion owner Len Boehler. He also ran two races on the NASCAR Southern Modified Tour, finishing fifth at Connecticut's Thompson Speedway and twelfth at Charlotte.

Post-NASCAR In October 2012, Park spoke to ESPN in support of IMPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) and other neurological testing for drivers in the wake of his former teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. being sidelined after sustaining a concussion at Talladega. Park himself was a victim of crashes that took him out of action.

Return to NASCAR (2013) Park entered a Whelen Modified Tour race during Speedweeks at Daytona. The race was run as part of the inaugural UNOH Battle at the Beach to open Daytona's new backstretch .4 mile short-oval configuration.

On the final lap, Park was pushed from behind by Eric Goodale into race leader Mike Stefanik and inadvertently wound up winning the race. It was Park's first modified racing victory since 1996. Stefanik was visibly upset with the incident, calling it "just bullshit".

Personal life Park became acquainted with Mariah Carey in high school through mutual friends as they both grew up in the same area.

Park formerly owned and operated a Batteries Plus Bulbs franchise in Mooresville, North Carolina. He sold it in September 2022.

Park was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island in the Auto Racing Category with the Class of 2004.

Park has one older brother, Daniel Bud "Danny" Park, who was born in Peoria, Illinois and grew up in Evansville, Indiana.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

Sprint Cup Series NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Pts Ref 1997 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 14 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR TEX BRI MAR SON TAL CLT DOV POC MCH CAL DAY NHA POCDNQ IND GLN33 MCH BRI DAR RCH NHADNQ DOVDNQ CLTDNQ TAL CAR33 PHO41 ATL15 51st 326 Team SABCO 40 Chevy MAR41 1998 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 1 Chevy DAY41 CAR31 LVSDNQ ATLINQ‡ DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL CLT DOV RCH MCH POC SON NHA POC IND35 GLN18 MCH11 BRI34 NHA41 DAR24 RCH27 DOV11 MAR24 CLT36 TAL41 DAY33 PHO24 CAR35 ATL17 41st 1322 1999 DAY34 CAR26 LVS16 ATL32 DAR12 TEX32 BRI23 MAR25 TAL37 CAL24 RCH34 CLT42 DOV16 MCH6 POC13 SON42 DAY42 NHA12 POC8 IND15 GLN12 MCH20 BRI31 DAR10 RCH16 NHA15 DOV9 MAR12 CLT10 TAL14 CAR15 PHO15 HOM19 ATL12 14th 3481 2000 DAY31 CAR9 LVS43 ATL4 DAR39 BRI7 TEX19 MAR25 TAL32 CAL16 RCH11 CLT9 DOV19 MCH29 POC15 SON17 DAY33 NHA28 POC15 IND16 GLN1* MCH33 BRI5 DAR10 RCH4 NHA34 DOV4 MAR11 CLT7 TAL19 CAR6 PHO3 HOM8 ATL18 11th 3934 2001 DAY31 CAR1 LVS7 ATL43 DAR2* BRI9 TEX2 MAR19 TAL31 CAL15 RCH4 CLT22 DOV2 MCH23 POC32 SON40 DAY20 CHI41 NHA6 POC13 IND7* GLN10 MCH9 BRI7 DARINQ‡ RCH DOV KAN CLT MAR TAL PHO CAR HOM ATL NHA 32nd 2854 2002 DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR39 BRI24 TEX20 MAR24 TAL34 CAL22 RCH34 CLT38 DOV39 POC23 MCH32 SON23 DAY34 CHI27 NHA32 POC43 IND7 GLN39 MCH41 BRI26 DAR36 RCH11 NHA29 DOV26 KAN30 TAL6 CLT15 MAR16 ATL15 CAR24 PHO21 HOM17 33rd 2694 2003 DAY29 CAR21 LVS10 ATL16 DAR20 BRI30 TEX39 TAL20 MAR24 CAL40 RCH43 32nd 2923 Richard Childress Racing 30 Chevy CLT27 DOV32 POC35 MCH27 SON41 DAY39 CHI26 NHA8 POC25 IND15 GLN26 MCH5 BRI29 DAR20 RCH31 NHA34 DOV26 TALDNQ KAN22 CLT36 MAR12 ATL36 PHO39 CAR34 HOM19 2004 Ultra Motorsports 7 Dodge DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLTDNQ DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL PHO DAR HOM NA - 2010 Tommy Baldwin Racing 36 Chevy DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR PHO TEX TAL RCH DAR DOV CLT POC MCH SON NHA DAY13 CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH NHA DOV KAN CAL CLT MAR TAL TEX PHO HOM 62nd 129 2011 35 DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL MAR TEX TAL42 RCH DAR DOV CLT KAN POC MCH SON DAY KEN NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH CHI NHADNQ DOV KAN CLT TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 52nd 2 † - Was replaced by Phil Parsons after being injured in practice · ‡ - Qualified but replaced by Kenny Wallace

Daytona 500 Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1998 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 33 41 1999 23 34 2000 36 31 2001 25 31 2003 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 32 29

Busch Series NASCAR Busch Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Pts Ref 1990 Bill Weeb 84 Pontiac DAYDNQ RCH CAR MAR HCY DAR BRI LAN SBO NZH28 HCY CLT DOV ROU VOL MYB OXF NHA SBO DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NHA CAR MAR 98th 79 1991 DAYDNQ RCH CAR MAR VOL HCY DAR BRI LAN SBO NZH CLT DOV ROU HCY MYB GLN OXF NHA SBO DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT NHA CAR MAR NA - 1995 Steve Park 84 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV27 CLT CAR HOM 94th 82 1996 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 31 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NZH CLT DOV SBO MYB GLN MLW NHA TAL IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT29 CAR HOM 91st 76 1997 3 DAY7 CAR32 RCH3 ATL42 LVS8 DAR34 HCY13 TEX35 BRI6 NSV1* TAL2 NHA2 NZH29 CLT16 DOV5 SBO13 GLN6 MLW5* MYB9 GTY15 IRP8 MCH1 BRI2 DAR5 RCH1 DOV5 CLT6 CAL2 CAR6 HOM12 3rd 4080 1999 Grubb Motorsports 83 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR TEXDNQ NSV BRI TAL CAL NHA RCH NZH CLT DOV SBO GLN MLW MYB PPR GTY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR MEM PHO NA - Marsh Racing 84 Chevy HOMDNQ 2000 31 DAY CAR LVSDNQ ATL DAR17 BRI TEX13 NSV TAL CAL RCH6 NHA10 CLT DOV SBO MYB GLN MLW NZH PPR GTY25 IRP MCH BRI DARDNQ RCHDNQ DOV9 CLTDNQ CAR12 MEM PHO41 HOM29 43rd 999 2001 DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR7 BRI TEX NSH TAL CAL RCH9 NHA6 NZH CLT DOV5 KEN MLW GLN CHI42 GTY PPR IRP MCH BRI4 DAR38 RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM PHO CAR HOM 46th 840 2003 Chance 2 Motorsports 8 Chevy DAY CAR LVS4 DAR BRI TEX TAL NSH CAL RCH GTY NZH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA PPR IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM ATL PHO CAR HOM 102nd 160 2006 Marsh Racing 31 Chevy DAY CAL MXC LVS30 ATL BRI TEX NSH PHO TAL RCH41 DAR39 CLT DOV37 NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA MAR GTY30 IRP32 GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 77th 351

Camping World Truck Series NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Pts Ref 1996 Walker Evans Racing 02 Dodge HOM PHO POR EVG TUS CNS HPT BRI NZH MLW LVL I70 IRP11 FLM 50th 408 NEMCO Motorsports 87 Chevy GLNQL† NSV RCH Roehrig Motorsports 18 Chevy NHA4 MAR NWS SON MMR PHO Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 76 Chevy LVS15 1997 WDW TUS HOM PHO POR EVG I70 NHA TEX BRI NZH MLW LVL CNS HPT IRP FLM NSV GLN RCH MAR SON MMR CAL PHO25 LVS 111th 88 2004 Orleans Racing 62 Dodge DAY27 ATL12 MAR26 MFD27 CLT12 DOV13 TEX10 MEM11 MLW4 KAN4 KEN6 GTW31 MCH17 IRP22 NSH5 BRI9 RCH12 NHA14 LVS3* CAL8 TEX12 MAR23 PHO6 DAR5 HOM23 9th 3138 2005 DAY23 CAL1 ATL35 MAR24 GTY13 MFD20 CLT5 DOV36 TEX16 MCH31 MLW7 KAN32 KEN8 MEM12 IRP30 NSH15 BRI15 RCH18 NHA12 LVS30 MAR 22nd 2275 Bill Davis Racing 67 Toyota ATL34 TEX16 PHO HOM 2006 HT Motorsports 59 Ford DAY CAL ATL25 CLT28 DOV21 TEX21 MCH31 MLW16 KAN14 KEN MEM IRP NSH BRI NHA LVS TAL MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 35th 971 Dodge MAR36 GTY18 MFD10 2009 Corrie Stott Racing 02 Chevy DAY CAL ATL MAR KAN CLT DOV TEX MCH MLW MEM KEN IRP NSH BRI CHI IOW GTW NHA LVS MAR TAL25 TEX PHO HOM 90th 88 2010 Sharp Hartman Racing 41 Toyota DAY ATL MAR NSH KAN DOV CLT TEX MCH IOW GTY IRP POC NSH DAR BRI CHI18 KEN25 NHA LVS MAR TAL TEX 66th 303 Eddie Sharp Racing 46 PHO19 HOM † - Qualified for Joe Nemechek

K&N Pro Series East NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pts Ref 1990 Bill Weeb 84 Pontiac DAY RCHDNQ CAR MAR OXF NZH28 OXF DOV JEN EPP MND OXF NHADNQ HOL OXF IRP OXF TMP RPS NHA13 TMP DOV EPP NHA 43rd 271 1996 Allen Avery 31 Olds DAY LEE JEN8 NZH HOL 25th 1478 09 NHA1* TIO BEE TMP29 NZH1 NHA13 STA14 GLN2 EPP RPS LEE NHA2 NHA36 BEE TMP21 LRP4 2006 NDS Motorsports 35 Ford GRE STA HOL TMP ERI NHA ADI WFD NHA DOV2 LRP 48th 175 2007 53 GRE ELK IOW SBO STA NHA TMP NSH ADI LRP MFD NHA DOV8 57th 142 2008 35 Chevy GRE8 IOW7 SBO8 NHA28 TMP22 NSH6 ADI14 DOV4 STA26 9th 1727 Dodge GLN5 LRP7 MFD18 NHA2 2009 Chevy GRE7 TRI15 IOW17 SBO13 GLN6 NHA10 TMP2* ADI1 LRP11 NHA8 DOV6 5th 1571 2010 Spraker Racing 08 Chevy GRE SBO IOW MAR30 NHA25 LRP LEE JFC NHA 35th 261 Olsen Racing 54 Chevy DOV21

Camping World West Series NASCAR K&N Pro Series West results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pts Ref 2009 NDS Motorsports 35 Chevy CTS AAS PHO3 MAD IOW DCS SON IRW PIR MMP CNS IOW AAS 45th 170

Whelen Modified Tour NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour results Year Car owner No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Pts Ref 1986 Info not available ROU MAR STA TMP MAR NEG MND EPP NEG WFD SPE RIV NEG TMP RIV13 TMP TMP31 MAR 33rd 554 Bill Weeb Racing 81 RIV11 STA TMP POC18 TIO OXF STA14 1987 91 ROU MAR TMP STA CNB STA MND WFD JEN SPE RIV17 TMP RPS EPP RIV21 31st 657 81 STA17 TMP RIV SEE STA16 POC21 TIO TMP OXF TMP ROU MAR STA15 1988 Info not available ROU24 JEN4 13th 2505 81 Chevy MAR25 IRP24 MND MAR24 Bill Weeb Racing TMP21 TMP23 MAR16 OSW27 OSW24 RIV21 JEN16 RPS18 RIV14 OSW22 TMP30 OXF20 OSW10 TMP9 POC43 TIO11 TMP17 ROU11 1989 Postley Motorsports Chevy MAR16 TMP4 MAR12 JEN19 IRP8 OSW15 WFD26 MND21 RIV4 OSW19 JEN21 STA18 RPS18 RIV20 OSW10 TMP8 TMP33 RPS14 OSW21 TMP13 POC23 STA6 TIO2 MAR25 12th 3099 Pontiac STA11 Chevy TMP8 1990 Park Racing 24 Chevy MAR RCH TMP STA MAR TMP STA MND HOL STA RIV20 JEN EPP RPS 31st 604 Info not available RIVDNQ TMP RPS Bill Weeb Racing 81 Chevy NHA27 TMP Park Racing 24 Pontiac POC7 STA TMP10 Merkel Racing Engines MAR8 1991 Curt Chase 77 Pontiac MAR RCH TMP7 NHA MAR17 NZH20 STA4 TMP3 FLE5 OXF9 RIV12 JEN6 STA2 RPS6 RIV18 RCH30 TMP14 NHA15 TMP1 POC27 STA8 TMP6 MAR6 11th 2701 1992 MAR26 TMP4 RCH17 STA11 MAR5 NHA32 NZH6 STA16 TMP3 FLE7 RIV5 NHA3 STA16 RPS6* RIV3* TMP28 TMP6 NHA2 STA15 MAR9 TMP11 4th 2820 1993 Tony Marciel / Guy Ronzoni 1 Chevy RCH36 STA10 TMP4 NHA7 NZH21 STA17 RIV1* TMP8 RPS19 HOL18 LEE15 RIV20 STA5 TMP3 TMP21 STA8 TMP18 9th 2136 1994 NHA4 STA9 TMP11 NZH37 STA25 LEE4 TMP24 RIV11 TIO18 NHA5 RPS3* HOL4 TMP4 RIV1* NHA1* STA13 SPE8* TMP5 NHA3 STA17 TMP14 4th 2877 1995 Scott Bandzul 8 Chevy TMP5 NHA39 STA30 NZH30 STA7 LEE21 TMP3 RIV5 BEE1** NHA1* JEN1* RPS16 HOL2* RIV7 NHA26* STA1* TMP1* NHA1* STA2 TMP4 TMP1* 2nd 3019 1996 TMP1 STA19 NZH15 STA19 NHA3 JEN1 RIV5* LEE21 RPS2 HOL3 TMP1* RIV3 NHA4 GLN29* STA23 NHA1* NHA22* STA4* FLE2 TMP1* 2nd 2907 2004 Whelen Engineering 00 Dodge TMP STA WFD NZH STA RIV LER WAL BEE NHA SEE RIV STA TMP WFD TMP NHA32 STA TMP 80th 67 2005 Mystique Motorsports 82 Chevy TMP STA RIV WFD STA JEN NHA BEE SEE RIV STA TMP WFD MAR TMP NHA STA28 TMP 74th 79 2013 Michael Smeriglio Racing 20 Ford TMP STA STA WFD RIV NHA MND STA TMP BRIDNQ RIV NHA STA TMP N/A -

Whelen Southern Modified Tour NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour results Year Car owner No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pts Ref 2011 Bill Park 20 Chevy CRW HCY SBO CRW CRW BGS BRI CRW LGY THO5 TRI CRW 28th 282 Jimmy Baker 73 Chevy CLT12 CRW 2013 Michael Smeriglio Racing 20 Ford CRW SNM SBO CRW CRW BGS BRIDNQ LGY CRW CRW SNM CLT N/A -

ARCA Racing Series (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.) ARCA Racing Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pts Ref 2010 NDS Motorsports 53 Ford DAY PBE SLM TEX TAL TOL POC MCH IOW MFD POC BLN NJE ISF CHI DSF TOL SLM KAN CAR35 134th 55