Steve Park letters

CONCORD, N.C. -- Note: We've been doing Track Smack for over two years. During that time, the Steve Park issue -- believe it or not -- has generated more response than any other. Here are a sample of the letters we received after last week's Smack. Some have been edited for length and profanity.

Words can not describe how disappointed I am in your commentary on Steve Park's status. From Lee I am not surprised, but from Marty, you floored me. I always thought that you were supportive of Steve. – Kathy

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Listen up, if you are going to pick up a hammer, you might as well just hit the nail on the head and quit trying to be all diplomatic and crap. Park may be a great guy, but until he gets his nerve back he is going to have more Snafu's. I do think you dudes are hip for not kicking a man when he's down. – Mike

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Just give the guy a break. He has been through a lot, and if he does get released (a mistake) then he will be picked up by someone very

quickly. Maybe if he had the "support" (both by NASCAR and monetary) that Junior and some others have, he could be right up there with the rest. – Chad

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I am not a Steve Park fan or hater (just a pure NASCAR fan) but how many chances do you get just from being with DEI from the start? I like the "He's a good guy" and "You will never meet anyone nicer" but how many cars and at what cost does he get to continue tearing up his and other people's equipment? – Ronnie

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Sometimes you guys just don't learn....You start listening to those people who claim to be a Steve Park fan but don't stick around to weather the storm when things get rough. If you are a true fan (of any driver) you cheer them on when things are good and you support them when things ain't going so great. True Steve Park fans followed his recovery and even watch or visited the races hoping to catch a glimpse of him on his way back. – Lynne

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I cannot believe the three of you.... especially YOU MARTY!!!!!!!!!! I've written and thanked you in the past for the positive things you've said and written about Steve....well, THAT won't be happening anymore no matter WHAT you say!

All of you are total jerks, period. YOU and the rest of the media with the exception of a very few with class and brains like Dick Berggren and Jeff Hammond caused Steve's lashing out at you.

I don't know why it took the man so long to bash back at you! All of us FANS have known you've all been on his case since he wrecked! All any of you have on your freakin' minds is Junior!

I'm sick and tired of all the whining all of you in the media have done and the butt-kissing you do to Earnhardt Jr. Heck, just give him the 2003 WC championship now and be done with it since he's the ONLY one any of you see out there when you watch a race anymore! He doesn't walk on water, people! He's not NASCAR either, if he is, then God help us!

All of you have bashed Steve for two years now without cause. He hasn't always had a car that was even close to the ones the other two had and you all know it!

He's been treated like the redheaded stepchild of DEI and had to take whatever junk the other two "superstars" didn't want.

Most of you wonder why you brains in the media have not even talked about Steve and the #1 crew UNTIL you wanted to bash him. Could you work with all the pressure and constant rumors and criticism laid on you that he's had put on him the last two years?

Having to defend oneself and your ability every stinking week makes anyone try too hard, which invariably leads to even more mistakes. All three of you, like the wonder boy Junior, however, must be perfect and NEVER screw-up. Well, how nice for all of you!

You've screwed up big time with this crap you're spewing out here though. I will never believe another thing any of you have to say, and that includes you, Marty! I thought you had class and had a lot of brains and talent. Now I find out, you're just another jerk who thinks he can say anything he likes no matter how much it hurts someone.

You pretend to be on Steve's side? Well, with friends like you, who needs enemies?

I'm totally disgusted and fed up with all of you. Marty, I'm really disappointed with you more than anything! I guess, when the chips are truly down, we now know where you stand. GREAT JOB!

Hate mail? No, none of you are worth hating. You're just below contempt and stooping to hate. -- Kathy

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I think DEI has a responsibility to Steve Park and to Pennzoil to take the pressure off of Steve right now. How??? Tell Steve that the ride is his for 2003 - we'll look at the whole year - you are the driver of the #1 car for 2003.

Steve needs to know that DEI and Pennzoil believe in him now. Without the confidence of his management, he will press even harder, which creates silly mistakes on the race track, which I believe is what you are seeing now. He is pressing so hard he cannot help himself – David

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Look, if you guys think he sucks so much, why don't you just stop talking about him? You mention you're pulling for him, but yet you bash him every chance you get! What is with that?

Do you think that helps his concentration any more? This negativity isn't helping any at all. They say the pressure makes him over drive the car. And still you apply more pressure so he can try to prove himself that much harder? Are you trying to end his career?

Ryan said it himself, "psychology is important in any sport".. Well this week's article of Track Smack, I'm sure is really going to help him out psychologically. Thanks for your encouraging of words of support. This is exactly what he needs to get back on top...

Good work. -- Lori

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You were kinder than I expected to Steve Park. I remember a politician once saying,' Never pick a fight with a guy who buys ink by the gallon.'

(note: Actually, it's "ink by the barrel, but who's counting?)

Steve picked a fight with a lot of those types after his pole win on Friday and it bit him on the butt Sunday.

You guys had the right to a lot more gloating. I admire your restraint. I've never been a big fan of his, but I'll still be sorry to see him go. And I'm pretty sure he will be going soon. And that will open up one great ride for somebody. -- Rick

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Thank you guys for stepping up to the plate and calling a spade a spade regarding Steve Park. You have separated yourselves from the rest of the wishy washy media that seems to tip toe around this issue.

Somebody needs to insist that Steve recuperates 100 percent before he gets back in the drivers seat. NASCAR seems to reprimand other drivers for driving in a way that seems to consistently cause wrecks.

Thanks again for having the cajones to be the only ones to speak out on this issue. -- Mark

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I just wanted to thank you for your comments about Steve Park today. Yeah, as a member of the media that he was ripping on over the weekend, it would have been easier to go with Lee, but you took the high road.

Thanks, as a Steve Park fan, I appreciate it. And yeah, I too wonder about his job, but I'm not pulling him out of that 1 car yet. Rumors were abundant last year about him, too, yet he's still there. – Amanda

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Why don't you guys walk a while in Steve's shoes? He is trying to save his career and all he hears/sees/reads about is his misfortune in having an accident that set him back, his chance of losing his job, he can't drive anymore, etc.

Think about how it would make you feel to have to deal with all this and try to do your best at your job with you mind swirling around these things. Leave the guy alone; don't keep bringing up the subject of the accident, rumors, etc. in articles. – Beverly

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Why does it have to have been Park going into Newman? Why doesn't anyone ever say that Newman tried to put his car in a gap between Park and the wall that wasn't big enough? What makes Newman innocent? He causes some wrecks but comes out smelling like a rose...why is that?

If Park had gotten into Robby Gordon, then Robby would have been getting media attention for wrecking the pole sitter, because he's been given that reputation.

So would have Sterling Marlin or Jimmy Spencer or anyone else with an aggressive and sometimes nasty disposition on the track, with a rep. for bumping and pushing. So give Steve Park a break. Just because some media is on the hate him and get rid of him bandwagon...you guys shouldn't have to be – Jean