Park out indefinitely
By Stephen Thomas, CNNSI.com
September 7, 2001
7:30 PM EDT (2330 GMT)
RICHMOND, Va. -- Steve Park, injured last weekend in an accident during the Busch race at Darlington Raceway, will be out of the No. 1 car indefinitely, said Ty Norris, executive vice president of motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc.
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Steve Park has two career Winston Cup victories.
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Park's neurologist, Dr. Jerry Petty, a specialist at Carolinas Medical Center, said that further MRIs revealed that Park's brain was bruised and would require additional time to heal. Petty cautioned that Park would be unable to drive "conservatively four to six weeks."
Kenny Wallace, who subbed for Park in last week's Southern 500 Winston Cup race, will be the driver until Park is able to return. "I definitely don't want to be in this car in this situation," Wallace said. "But this is still all about Steve Park and his health. I just want him and his family to know that I'm thinking about Steve."
According to Norris, Park is having problems with his equilibrium and some difficulty focusing, common side effects with the type of concussion Park endured.
"I haven't spoken to Steve in a few days," Norris said, "because he's been resting so much, but I spoke to his mother [earlier today] and Steve understands that this is going to take some time. We do not want to rush him back."
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Park's car is hauled away after the Sept. 1 accident.
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Park was injured as the field was forming to take the green flag after a brief rain delay during last Saturday's South Carolina 200. While no definitive reason has been given to explain why Park's car veered suddenly to its left and was blindsided by Larry Foyt's car, Norris speculated that Park's steering wheel hadn't been clicked on properly when Park returned to his car after the delay.
"The wheel wasn't on when rescue workers got to the car and Steve was unconscious," Norris said, "so it's obvious he didn't take it off after the accident."
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