In first event for RCR, Park on Open pole

CONCORD, N.C. - The next part of Steve Park's Winston Cup career started off in a pretty good spot: On the pole.

	Steve Park Credit: Autostock

Park, driving Richard Childress' No. 30 Chevrolet for the first time, won the pole for Saturday's Winston Open with a fast lap of 184.244 mph.

He edged Todd Bodine to earn the top spot for the 30-lap race that puts the winner in The Winston.

"I'm just elated," Park said. "The last seven days have been unbelievable. Losing one job, and then landing at RCR.

"It's a whole bunch of mixed emotions. The main thing is, when I lost my job and signed up with Richard, it was like a big weight lifted off my shoulders.

The Winston Open  Lineup  Happy Hour Speeds  2nd Practice Speeds  1st Practice Speeds

"Richard sat me down and said, 'You know what? We've got to have fun. This team has been struggling. I can see they're not having fun going to the races. I'm not having fun. The last few months have been miserable.'

"It showed in my attitude, it showed on the race track."

Park was released by Dale Earnhardt Inc. last week, but was hired by Richard Childress Racing two days later. The switch has seemed to energize RCR.

"That's awesome for him," teammate Kevin Harvick said. "Richard made a great move, and we're starting to see dividends pay off already."

Park, who won the Open in 2000 with DEI, is so new to the team that when he tried to congratulate some of his crewmen, he couldn't call them by name. He knew Mike Beam, his crew chief, and a couple others, but that's it.

	Mike Wallace

"I've only been here seven days," Park said.

"If you run like that, you don't need to know our names," a crewman told Park on pit road.

"We're having fun," Park said. "That's the main thing."

Jimmy Spencer qualified third at 183.368 mph. Mike Wallace, driving in relief of Jerry Nadeau for the first time, posted the fourth-fastest lap at 183.206 mph, with Kenny Wallace fifth at 182.970.

Sixth through 10th were Ken Schrader, Mike Skinner, Brett Bodine, Tony Raines and Dave Blaney.

Jeff Green, the former driver of Park's No. 30, qualified 11th in his first race in DEI's No. 1 car.

For one day, at least, it looks like RCR got the better end of the "swap."

"You're only judged by your performance on the race track and what you did last week," Park said. "I'm just real thankful that Richard gave me the opportunity to come to his race team."