Park visits DEI: Ty Norris, executive vice president of motorsports for Dale Earnhardt Inc., said driver Steve Park – injured in a Grand National series race last month at Darlington, S.C. – has made marked improvement in recent weeks. Kenny Wallace has been substituting for Park in the DEI-owned No. 1 Chevrolets in the Winston Cup series since the accident. Park suffered bruising of his brain and a moderate concussion and has battled double vision. Park visited DEI headquarters the Wednesday before the Martinsville race, meeting with team members and owner Teresa Earnhardt. “He really lifted everybody’s spirits. He looked so good. He was himself, had his personality about him and he really got everybody excited at the shop again because obviously a lot of the stories have been going on around him,” Norris said. “It’s one thing to hear it from someone in a team meeting and say, `Everything is going to be fine,’ but it’s another thing when Steve walked in the door. It’s been devastating to lose him at this time of year.” Norris said Park is still struggling with double vision, but has been able conduct this physical therapy at his personal trainer’s, rather than at the hospital. “He’s getting better every week we see him,” Norris said. “We’re completely compared to not have him not race for us again until the Daytona race next year. If he’s ready, he will race as soon as he’s ready.”(That’s Racin’)(10-19-2001)
