it's official..steve in the 30 car

[hooty3]

from jayski:


UPDATE 4: Steve Park has been named the driver for Richard Childress Racing’s (RCR) #30 America Online Chevrolet team. He will make his RCR debut May 17 in The Winston Open at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. “Steve is going to give the America Online team a fresh start going into the summer months of the season,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “He’s a proven winner in Winston Cup and I know he has what it takes to work with Mike Beam (crew chief) and the rest of the AOL team to get the program headed in the right direction. I’ve talked with Kevin (Harvick) and Robby (Gordon) and they’re both excited about him driving for RCR. ”
“America Online is committed to winning and we’re proud to have Steve Park in the driver’s seat,” said Richard Taylor, Senior Vice President of Brand Promotions for America Online. "To have the opportunity to drive for RCR and America Online is exciting," said Park. “A mentor like Richard and a change of scenery is something I'm really looking forward to. I’m lucky to have a primary sponsor like AOL with their marketing power behind me. My goal is to build consistency and to revitalize the AOL/RCR NASCAR Winston Cup program so we can finish the season on a high note."(RCR Site)(5-8-2003)


ok all you naysayers...here's some food for ya!!!.....

all i have to say is I wish steve good luck and hope this helps him turn things around...only time will tell tho...

 

[toddgee24]

i used to think Richard was smart, dont understand these moves, clearly i believe they were orchestrated by DEI and RCR

 

[bowtie]

Originally posted by toddgee24@May 8 2003, 01:03 PM
i used to think Richard was smart, dont understand these moves, clearly i believe they were orchestrated by DEI and RCR

I don't think it matters if it was orchestrated or not, maybe the best thing for all involved.

 

[redrock]

What a joke! This guy needs to get healthly a put his motor skills back together! Once again NASCAR looks the other way on safety!

 

[hooty3]

Originally posted by toddgee24@May 8 2003, 02:03 PM
i used to think Richard was smart, dont understand these moves, clearly i believe they were orchestrated by DEI and RCR

he's smarter than you or i will ever be,.to jump start one of his teams with a popular, loyal driver, not our business if it was......

 

[hooty3]

Originally posted by redrock@May 8 2003, 02:42 PM
What a joke! This guy needs to get healthly a put his motor skills back together! Once again NASCAR looks the other way on safety!

and your medical background is?...

 

[coonhound]

A good fresh start for Park, I'm sure CHildress had him physically and mentally checked over before he hired him. As for Green, He'll be back in Busch series next year, if hes lucky.

 

[bowtie]

Originally posted by redrock@May 8 2003, 01:42 PM
What a joke! This guy needs to get healthly a put his motor skills back together! Once again NASCAR looks the other way on safety!

Redrock you must be crazy to think NASCAR would put someone in a race car that wasn't mentally or physically able. RCR would not put someone in his car that wasn't ready either.

 

[redrock]

Give me break, can you say Dale Earnhardt jr. from last year; driving with a concussion. Medical background? listen to Steve answer a question, he sounds like he had spent the night with Dale jr. checking on Bud sponsor bottles, also just look at his performance last year and this year how many Penzoil cars has DEI had to duct tape back togther????

 

[bowtie]

Originally posted by redrock@May 8 2003, 01:56 PM
Give me break, can you say Dale Earnhardt jr. from last year; driving with a concussion.

Thats why I say it won't happen this year. Dale Jr. possibly put alot of people in danger last year and I think NASCAR will police that a little better.

 

[PettyBenson]

So I wounder how many times someone at Fox will call the wrong name when talking about Green and Park

 

[Dinoforthe3]

Originally posted by PettyBenson4510@May 8 2003, 02:13 PM
So I wounder how many times someone at Fox will call the wrong name when talking about Green and Park

At least benny will have time to practice

 

[toddgee24]

he's smarter than you or i will ever be,.to jump start one of his teams with a popular, loyal driver, not our business if it was......

a popular loyal driver who hasnt been able to get the job done, releasing a driver that couldnt get the job done, for IMO a driver that is worse then what he had, park might have been a good driver befor his injury but hasnt did a thing since, thats why i think Richard is making a dumb move, i may be wrong in the end, but with Park in that car i doubt it.

 

[97forever]

Originally posted by toddgee24@May 8 2003, 03:25 PM

he's smarter than you or i will ever be,.to jump start one of his teams with a popular, loyal driver, not our business if it was......

a popular loyal driver who hasnt been able to get the job done, releasing a driver that couldnt get the job done, for IMO a driver that is worse then what he had, park might have been a good driver befor his injury but hasnt did a thing since, thats why i think Richard is making a dumb move, i may be wrong in the end, but with Park in that car i doubt it.

I agree Toddgee.I like Steve,but have doubts about his skill these days.The edge is gone.(KEEPING Green would have been the smarter choice.)

Which is sort of like the entire RCR stable...only Robby has any drive left,and the Earnhardt loyalist will never accept the #31.Childress has made a lot of dumb moves in his time,this is just the latest.RCR is the new Wood Brothers...their day is past.

 

[toddgee24]

RCR is the new Wood Brothers...their day is past.

bold statement, lets see how the Earnhardt layalist accept it, i disagree with it however, i can see RCR getting the 29 going, cause chevy will want that, being there car, and sponsor. but the organization hasnt been the same since Dale left

 

[Mopardh9]

Correct me if i am wrong here , but isn't Harvick in the top 10 in points? How do you figure that Robbie has the only drive in the stable 97forever? I think getting Park wasn't the best of moves, but gettting rid of Green was a great decision. Park will have a chance to prove himself all over again, however, if he continues to wreck cars i think RC will pull him out of that ride.

 

[97forever]

Originally posted by toddgee24@May 8 2003, 03:39 PM

RCR is the new Wood Brothers...their day is past.

bold statement, lets see how the Earnhardt layalist accept it, i disagree with it however, i can see RCR getting the 29 going, cause chevy will want that, being there car, and sponsor. but the organization hasnt been the same since Dale left

My remarks go over with the Earnhardt loyalist about like a hooker in sunday school.Fortunately,most of them have jumped on the DEI bandwagon and left ol'RCR behind them.

If not for PR-image maker wife Delana,Kevin would be exposed as the also-ran he really is destined to be.The #29 itself is just another number,and Goodwrench is just another sponsor.ONLY Robby is a real racer in that group.

It will certainly take more than Kevin or Steve to restore the glory there.Childress without Dale Sr.is like Alabama football without Bear Bryant:mediocre.

 

[Mopardh9]

I'm not a big RCR loyalist, but Harvick has a ton of talent and will be a champion some day soon,probably not this year,but very soon. He is far from an also ran, i'd take him on my team any day!!!

 

[toddgee24]

lol, a hooker in sunday school

most of them have jumped on the DEI bandwagon and left ol'RCR behind them.

aint that the truth

Correct me if i am wrong here , but isn't Harvick in the top 10 in points?

with only 2 top 5's and 4 top 10's, not many drivers have been consistent this year, and thats pretty much why he is up there right now.

 

[toddgee24]

i also like Kevin and think he can be championship material if he can get the right cars behind him, right now he dont have that

 

[Mopardh9]

Yeh and being consistent wins championships! Just ask Jeffy Gordon.

 

[97forever]

I don't really dislike Harvick.I just think he may blow his chances if he sticks with RCR.He would be a good fit for a third Yates team,to speculate.Now an outfit like that could be good for him.But RCR?Not good for him in my humble opinion.

 

[toddgee24]

or goto Hendrick in a couple years , maybe im alittle biased, but i would to see Harvick and Gordon teamates, not to mention Vickers and Busch, damn what a team that could be

 

[Mopardh9]

Why do you think that 97, just curious , not trying to start anything I just think that RC has been able to calm him down after his troubles in his sophmore season. Granted he drives hard sometimes,maybe pushes his car into the rear ends of a few cars he shouldn't, but the kid can drive. I'd include Newman,Johnson,Jr, Mcmurray and Harvick in the same talent pool. I know there are lot of people here that don't think Jr has what it takes, but i consider him on the same playing field with the rest of those guys IMO.

 

[bowtie]

Originally posted by 97forever@May 8 2003, 03:06 PM
He would be a good fit for a third Yates team,to speculate.Now an outfit like that could be good for him.But RCR?Not good for him in my humble opinion.

This year harvick could be a star at RYR. IMO

 

[Gollum]

LOL this started out a Steve Park tread and then someone wanted to start beating up Kevin Harvick. What happen to the Steve Park tread. I like Park and I think he will do well at RCR. As for Childress making a mistake. He has been the buisness a long time. I dout there are many ou un that could do any better,

 

[97forever]

Originally posted by Mopardh9@May 8 2003, 04:14 PM
Why do you think that 97, just curious , not trying to start anything I just think that RC has been able to calm him down after his troubles in his sophmore season. Granted he drives hard sometimes,maybe pushes his car into the rear ends of a few cars he shouldn't, but the kid can drive. I'd include Newman,Johnson,Jr, Mcmurray and Harvick in the same talent pool. I know there are lot of people here that don't think Jr has what it takes, but i consider him on the same playing field with the rest of those guys IMO.

Well,all the guys you mention have one thing Kevin doesn't.They all have an older and more experienced team-mate to 'mentor' them along.Kevin doesnt have that,although Green and Robby are older,they both lack long-term Cup experience.Mark Martin was very instrumental in working with Matt,Kurt and Sadler,for instance.Ryan has Rusty,Jamie has Sterling,etc.Just my opinion but I think the older guys still can be helpful to the new guys.

 

[NateDogg]

damn, next thing you know will be trades, then draft pics.

Uhh, I will trade you Marlin for Kenny Wallace and a 1st round pick.

 

[Dinoforthe3]

Originally posted by 97forever@May 8 2003, 03:48 PM

Well,all the guys you mention have one thing Kevin doesn't.They all have an older and more experienced team-mate to 'mentor' them along.Kevin doesnt have that,although Green and Robby are older,they both lack long-term Cup experience.Mark Martin was very instrumental in working with Matt,Kurt and Sadler,for instance.Ryan has Rusty,Jamie has Sterling,etc.Just my opinion but I think the older guys still can be helpful to the new guys. [/quote]
I think this is a good point to make in regards to RCR. Woulda Coulda Shoulda. Someone in the stable has to step up and be a leader as a driver. It is a whole different ballgame being "THE" teammate (veteran winning driver) and being the other teammate (less experienced driver). Expectactions are handled different by different people and some learn quicker than others.

 

[robby.31.is.#1]

I dont think Kevin has the maturity to step up as the leader of the RCR stable. Steve can be that guy once he gets his confidence back, without confidence you cant be a good leader. Robby has really matured since his days in the #4 team so if someone steps up as the leader at RCR I would expect it to be either Steve or Robby.

 

[DJFan]

I dont think Steve is even close to "veteran matertial" that can become a leader to any of the other drivers in the RCR camp. Steve does however, have some very valuable track experience, he is not at all like KBusch who wouldnt recognize a wrench if you drew him a picture first, so he may also be valuable in the set up work before and after qualifying. Other than that I think that Richard made a mistake. Steve's reaction time or judgemental abilities have definately been affected by his accident. If there is a driver in that camp right now that will step up to be recognized as the "leader" it is Robby Gordon. Robby is very mechanically savvy, forward thinking and has settled into that ride pretty well.

Kel

 

[Mopardh9]

God points you guys about RCR needing a leader, Park isn't that guy IMO and i agree Harvick isn't ready yet, neither is Robby, although i will have to admit the guy is slowly growing on me. He has matured a lot since last year,but going for broke in running the Indy 500 and the 600 is a bad move on his part, he should concentrate soley on Cup, he has a chance to finish in the top 10 in points if he keeps getting top 10 points finishes. I feel for Park. I like the guy like i said yesterday, but i still feel he has only a short period of time to prove himself. I could be wrong on that, but i think he will only have about 8 races , then if he is stinking the joint out RC will get rid of him.

 

[hooty3]

richard said on totally nascar, thats its a totally clean slate and the only pressure on steve is what steve puts on himself...he gave steve a big vote of confidence by hiring him and I'm glad.....and there isn't one person on here who knows for sure the accident is the reason steve has struggled, just like i cant sit hear and say the accident has nothin to do with it for sure...hopefully this is what steve needs to get things going again, i for one hope it is...




also, steve is not looking to go in there and be the leader at RCR, thats ridiculous..he just wants to work hard at running good again...

 

[robby.31.is.#1]

oh my God two straight compliments for Robby Gordon are you guys ok? the sky is falling... i must be loosing my mind

 

[Mopardh9]

Yeh don't get too excited....i said he is growing on me a little, still has to prove himself in my eyes. Interesting statement by RC about Park, time will tell i guess lets' hope he does well.