DEI and BDR switch? Park to Davis? Wallace to DEI? BUT this is different…….now comes word of a behind-the-scenes deal between Bill Davis Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. – a deal which would put Kenny Wallace in the DEI cars that Steve Park currently drives [#1 Pennzoil Chevy] and put Park in some of Davis’ cars [#23 or #27], to work with Tommy Baldwin, who was his crew chief on the Busch North Series. Wallace would bring Stacker2 to DEI, and Pennzoil would go with Park to Davis. But the whole thing may be too complicated to put together. A few weeks ago Buckshot Jones made a hard run at landing a ride for next season with Davis. Then two weeks ago Kenny Wallace, with $11 million of sponsorship from Stacker2, appeared headed to Davis.(Winston Salem Journal) BUT Kenny Wallace appears to be the leading candidate to replace Hut Stricklin in the #23 Dodge at Bill Davis Racing. Mike Brown, team manager at Bill Davis Racing, said an announcement could come in about two weeks. He said published reports that Steve Park will be driving for Davis next season aren’t true. “We’ve talked to Steve about driving for us, but we haven’t offered him a contract,” Brown said.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(8-2-2002) UPDATE: A spokesman for team owner Bill Davis said Steve Park hasn’t been offered a contract for 2002, but Davis wants him if sponsorship comes through. Mike Brown, the team’s general manager, said Davis and Park have talked at length about Park replacing Hut Stricklin in the #23 Dodge. But Brown said it would be “premature” to assume the deal has been done.(Daily Press)(8-2-2002)
