Park, RCR say future will be decided soon

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Steve Park said he and car owner Richard Childress haven't talked about what's going to happen with the No. 30 Chevrolet next season, but both said a decision should be made my mid-October.

	Steve Park

"We're going to go on down the road a little bit further," Childress said Friday before qualifying at Watkins Glen International. "We'll make some decision on that car by around Charlotte or the middle of October, end of October."

Childress said he prefers to keep Park in the car, and Park clearly wants to remain with Richard Childress Racing.

"We're all hoping that we can get it going with Steve in it," Childress said. "AOL is really wanting us to put together a good, strong program. I've got all the confidence that if we can get Steve going, that he'll be our driver. We've got to run better than we've ran."

Park replaced Jeff Green in the car after the race at Richmond as the two drivers swapped rides. While Green is in the No. 1 car only until September, Park is secure until the end of the year.

Beyond that, Park doesn't know.

"We haven't talked at all about it," Park said. "Come mid-October, we should know what's going on for next year. I'll know what's going on for next year, so I'm pretty confident that if we can perform the way we need to in the America Online Chevrolet, then we're gonna remain here.

ALSO  •  Park's Driver Page  •  Park's 2003 Stats  •  Team Page: Richard Childress Racing

"We're just coming into our own with the team. We need maybe three new guys to build this team up to where the team needs to be. We're kind of short on help right now. ... We're confident we have the people and we can acquire the people we need to get back on top again."

Rumors surfaced recently that Park was talking to Bill Davis about a ride, but Park just smiled.

"I can see why," Park said. "Me and Bill Davis are good friends. We ride motorcycles quite a bit. I was at his shop the other day, and I got kind of thrown into the mix.

"The only reason why I was there was to drop off my motorcycle so his coach guy could take it to Watkins Glen so we can ride to Michigan.

"If I knew he was in some sort of mayhem, I would have never shown up at the shop. I'm really happy with where I'm right now, and we want to do everything we can to stay where I'm at."

	Richard Childress

Park admitted the decision is not in his hands; it belongs to Childress and America Online. But Park isn't waiting for them to decide his future.

"I didn't say I wasn't talking to anybody else," Park said. "I'm going to race next year, put it that way. We're building a team right now that can win races and finish in the top 10. Our main focus is doing that.

Park said the team is "accomplishing our goals" of finishing races and building the team.

"The only thing we haven't done is talk about next year and what our plans are," Park said. "The main thing is if we can continue to grow and run in the top 10 and top 15, there should be no reason we can't extend our relationship another year or so."