In an interview reported on Florida Today (in part) – “It’s not really a big secret that this is a make-or-break year for Steve [Park],” [Dale] Earnhardt Jr. said after testing at Daytona International Speedway. “We put a lot of thought into what to do there. That was a real tough decision. We felt we needed to give Steve a good opportunity this year and I think we have put good people into position to really make a difference on that team. The team morale was really awful last year at the end of the season. Now that’s changed tremendously. So this season here, hopefully he can get some good finishes and get some confidence back, get the guys to get some confidence in him. We signed a two-year contract and hopefully he’s going to give us good reason to extend that.”( Florida Today ) However: it was announced in August of 2002 that: Dale Earnhardt, Inc.[DEI] has signed Steve Park to a one-year contract extension to remain as the driver of the #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo through the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. “Steve is a talented race car driver and has continually shown his dedication and commitment to our sport, ” said team owner Teresa Earnhardt. “We look forward with anticipation and expectation that this continuity will ensure that the #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo lives up to its potential.” “I feel great that all we’ve put into re-signing with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Pennzoil has paid off,” said Park, Dale Earnhardt Inc.’s first Winston Cup driver. “I’m really happy that I’ll be in the #1 car for another season. Now that we have this behind us, we can concentrate on putting the #1 Pennzoil Chevy back in Victory Lane.” Park, 34, has driven for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. since 1996.( Steve Park Site and Letter from Steve Park )(8-16-2002/1-18-2003)
