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1998 was a long year in many aspects, yet it's hard to believe it's over already. The season started with high hopes of Steve becoming the WC rookie of the year, however the Atlanta crash changed that forever. Having to sit out nearly half the season made it next to impossible for Steve to win, and Kenny Irwin took home the honors. This 50th anniversary year saw Jeff Gordon become the first NASCAR driver to win 3 championships at the age of only 27. And for as happy as all of us Steve Park fans were to see him return for the Brickyard 400, we were witness to the rebirth of Darrell Waltrip. Good ol' DW not only did his job by filling in for Steve in his absence, but he did it with flair and excellence. All in all, it was another great year to be a NASCAR fan!
For any new fans who aren't aware of Steve's turmoil early in the year, the crash he was involved in on March 6th in Atlanta left him with a broken femur, right shoulder blade, and left collar bone... plus 2 chipped front teeth. His recovery went much faster than anyone expected, and he finally returned to the #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo for a testing session at Greenville Speedway, after getting clearance on June 23rd.. Steve took time to tell about his recovery in an article for www.country.com titled Brickyard Bound. After a visit with his doctors in April, it was made official that he is scheduled to run in the Brickyard 400 in July. Steve had hoped to make his comeback at Louden, as that is like a home track to him. However, on June 30th, DEI officially announced that it would indeed by the Brickyard 400 where he'd make his 1998 return.
This site was dedicated to bringing you all the news of his recovery, and followed the DEI #1 team as they tried to build owner points for Steve. This Winston Cup 1998 page contains a few stories in the bottom section, and is the launching point for the monthly news pages.
Three-time Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip's 13-race stint with his Dale Earnhardt Inc. crew in the Pennzoil Monte Carlo has ended. DW returns to the Tyler Jet Motorsports team and Steve resumes his duties in the Pennzoil Monte Carlo. Here are a few statistics reviewing Waltrip's brief tenure in the DEI car: Thank you, DW, for all you've done!
DW switches from his trademark chrome helmet! Read what he had to say, as only DW can say it!
Temporary PARKing
It was announced in a press conference at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday March 27th, 1998, that Darrell Waltrip will drive the #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo until Steve returns from injuries suffered March 6 at Atlanta. Waltrip begins his stint this weekend at Bristol where he has posted a record 12 victories including a string of seven consecutive wins beginning in 1981. Read the official press release!
A Final Look At DW In the Pennzoil Monte Carlo
What a start we had for '98! Dale Earnhardt finally wins the 40th Annual Daytona 500 on his 20th try, in NASCAR's 50th Anniversary Year. What a year for Steve to run his first Daytona 500. Even though Steve's continuance in the rookie-of-the-year competition has yet to be determined, the rookie-of-the-year page will be continually updated to reflect the 1998 competition. Steve first time in a Winston Cup car was during the 1997 season. The #1 crew has been settling in at DEI's new 110,000 (and growing) square foot shop in Moorseville, North Carolina. (The new pit crew was announced on January 2nd) It is going to be tough on this young crew to adjust to all the changes that will be going on in Steve's absence.
Don't forget to read over the news from the past months. Steve had a full month of activities in January, including the Winston Cup Preview, and the Miller Motorsports Show! Steve was deservedly excited about his first Daytona 500, and the start of his rookie Winston Cup year. Steve spent most of the first half of February in Florida preparing for The Great American Race. The rest of the year was filled with many ups and downs.... including too many weeks away from the track during his recovery. Don't miss any of the details of the 1998 season page!
The following pages chronicle the 1998 Winston Cup run:
for '98!
Each month's news can be found on a separate page, to speed the loading times from last year. This way we can bring you all the photos you love at a speed you'll like too.
UPDATED - 2-2-98
UPDATED - 3-2-98
UPDATED - 4-13-98
UPDATED - 4-30-98
UPDATED - 7-14-98
UPDATED - 7-14-98
UPDATED - 8-9-98
UPDATED - 8-27-98
UPDATED - 4-13-99
UPDATED -
UPDATED - 11-15-98
UPDATED -
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Recently, Darrell Waltrip has made the decision to switch from his "fashionable" chrome helmet to the black and yellow colors of the Pennzoil team. When asked why he decided to make the change, he had the following to say:
"Ever since I started using the chrome helmets our teams have had an unusual amount of radio problems. We think it might have something to do with the chrome and the car's ignitions. What I have found out is that the chrome helmet causes the ignition to be picked up in the radios. The car's ignition systems are right next to the driver so you can change them quickly. "Bill Simpson told me that Michael Andretti has run an all-chrome helmet in CART and had the same problems. This weekend will be a test. I'm going to run a helmet painted in Pennzoil's colors of yellow and black to see if the radio problems are really in the helmet or if the problems are just in the driver's head."
"I guess my chrome helmet has made the ozone mad or something.
Steve gets the nod from NASCAR Online fans!
NASCAR Online asked it's viewers before the season who they thought would win their first Winston Cup race this year. Surprisingly, the rookies came out on top, even though the occurrence of drivers winning a race in their rookie year is rare. Of the 7,354 votes accepted, (326 votes were rejected for ballot box stuffing) Steve received just over 20% of the vote, with Kenny Irwin coming in second. Read the entire story, and see the other drivers who received votes at
Prior to the Las Vegas 400, NASCAROnline once again asked it's fans who they thought would win the rookie of the year race. Even though Steve was 3rd in the points run prior to missing the race, he still got an overwhelming 47.7% of the votes! (Not that any of us are surprised . . . ) There were 18,672 ballots this time, with 2,055 of those thrown out. Steve was followed by Irwin, Nadeau, and Lepage. Read the entire story, and see what percentage of the vote the other rookies got at NASCAR Online.
Steve wrote a letter of thanks to the fans and sent it to NASCAR Online's users following his trip to the Las Vegas 400, where he failed to qualify for the first time this season. The letter arrived prior to his being injured in a crash during practice for the PRIMESTAR 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
DEI swaps car number with Jackson
Steve will switch to #1 instead of #14 for 1998. All owners points will naturally remain with the car, not the number. Hear how DEI members feel about the change:
"Our goal is to be number one and this is the first step. There is a great deal of prestige that accompanies the #1. Pennzoil is America's #1 selling motor oil and DEI is striving to become the #1 racing team in the sport." - Ty Norris, DEI director of motorsports. "From where I sit it doesn't make a lot of difference what number is on my car, but this is a neat deal for the race fans, DEI and the people at Pennzoil. This #1 along with our new paint scheme is going to make the Pennzoil Monte Carlo the best looking car in racing next year." - Steve
"They're going to run the No. 1, it's going to be exciting for Steve Park and the guys. We worked it out with Richard Jackson and NASCAR, and he's going to run the No. 14 and we're going to run the No. 1. It's just seemed like a good fit; a Pennzoil No. 1 car, and with Park being a rookie, in his first year, we just liked the feel of it." - Dale Earnhardt
PENNZOIL comes on board
(that's his son Craig in the picture)
It was announced in early September, 1997, that Pennzoil would be taking over the sponsorship of the #14 car, leaving the #30 car, where they have sponsored Johnny Benson for the last 2 years. Pennzoil has signed a 3 year deal with DEI to sponsor Steve. (I'll miss the Whopper Warriors) Veteran crew chief Philippe Lopez, noted for his ability to develop up-and-coming drivers, including current NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Ward Burton, leads the first-year team, based in DEI's new shop. Lopez built the cars Park used on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 1997.
"We think associating our company with DEI and someone with a future as bright as Steve Park's represents an opportunity to field a winning NASCAR team that is too good to pass up," said Tom Floyd, Pennzoil's chief marketing officer.
"We are delighted to be able to bring this exciting team to racing fans and our loyal customers around the country. The Pennzoil name has long been associated with such open-wheel racing champions as Wilbur Shaw, Johnny Rutherford, Rick Mears, Al Unser, and Eddie Hill. Considering Steve's phenomenal success in the modifieds and the potential he's already shown in the Busch Grand National Series, we feel this agreement continues that tradition and leads us into a new era."
#1 Pennzoil Chevy Monte Carlo
Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
1675 Coddle Creek Highway
Mooresville, NC 28115
(704) 662-8000
(704) 663-7945 Fax
Owner: Teresa Earnhardt
Crew Chief: Philippe Lopez
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