Steve Park completed 296 laps while testing his #62 Orleans Dodge at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway March 30. The team tested the same truck that will compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway April 17. “Steve wasn’t using the same line you would normally drive at the Bullring,” said Johnny Allen, the team’s crew chief. “He drove the track the shape of Martinsville. They aren’t the same size, but you are still able to learn a lot about the characteristics of the truck. We played with a lot of different scenarios to prepare for the next race. In all, it was a productive test. It is convenient to have the Bullring in our backyard. It cuts down on our travel time, which is our biggest disadvantage about being a Las Vegas-based team.” The Bullring is a 3/8-mile oval, while Martinsville Speedway is a half-mile oval. “I have extensive experience at Martinsville, so I was able to adjust my line to fit the configuration,” Park said. “They are both bullrings, but the Las Vegas Bullring doesn’t drive anything like Martinsville. Using the Martinsville line makes our test more valid. We specifically tried to simulate how we would be off the corner.” Park has completed 5,178 laps of competition in 11 starts at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. He has not competed in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Martinsville. In addition to the test, Park, who lives in Daytona, Florida, spent an extra day in Las Vegas to work with the team in the Orleans Racing shop. “Having Steve in the shop is a moral boost for the guys, especially right now when we are only racing once a month,” Allen said. “When he comes to town, he joins the guys for everything they do. He worked out with team this morning and attended our morning meeting. He does a good job of motivating them to work hard for the next race.” Park said: “It benefits me as much as it does the crew. I enjoy being in Las Vegas. I enjoy working on the truck. I enjoy spending time with the guys. I want to be a part of this team. That is what a team is. I’m not just the driver; I am a team member. I was at the gym with the guys at 6 o’clock this morning. I think it goes a long way. It shows them how committed I am to being a part of a good organization.” The next race of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is the Kroger 250 April 17 at Martinsville Speedway.(Orleans Racing PR)(4-1-2004)
