DEI denies report about Park's release

RICHMOND, Va. -- Reports that Winston Cup driver Steve Park will be released by Dale Earnhardt, Inc. following the Coca-Cola 600 in three weeks are false, DEI executive vice president Ty Norris told NASCAR.com.

	Steve Park

"It was irresponsible reporting … to make a ridiculous comment like that, when they asked me point blank and I said 'Absolutely no way,'" Norris said. "That rumor is very, very false."

Norris also said that conversations between DEI and any future talent are focused solely on the future.

"Any conversation that we're having with our drivers, or any others, are strictly about 2003," Norris said.

Norris also said that DEI's drivers were under performance-based analysis.

"Basically, the situation is, if we have good, solid performances, DEI will look the same," Norris said. "The problem is we as an organization are pretty inconsistent. We have to get better.

"We have a self-imposed deadline. By a certain time we want to see certain things, or we're going to have to make a decision and go 100 miles per hour down that road.

"Whether people think it's the right decision or think it's the wrong decision, we have to worry about what's best for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. in the long term."