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As hard as it has been for the fans to sit around for most of the 1998 season to date, waiting to see our favorite driver, we all know how difficult all of this has been on Steve. Beyond the physical hardships of a strenuous rehabilitation regiment necessary in order to merely walk again, the emotional side has been a struggle to stay the least. Steve is one of the most positive persons I know of, yet facing this traumatic of a delay in all his pre-season expectations is not something that can be ignored.
Steve was thrust into the attention of millions of fans last year when Dale Earnhardt put him into the #3 AC Delco Monte Carlo in the Busch Grand National Series. Not only was he driving for one of the biggest names in NASCAR's illustrious history, but he also was breaking rookie records at every turn. Proving to all the newly found fans that he was not just any new driver, but a man who had put in his dues over the years, and truly worked his way up.
Even with all the deserved attention Steve received last year, he had no idea just how much media attention he was going to receive this year as he entered one of the most competitive Rookie of the Year competitions in history. Even though there are 4 talented drivers in the competition, the real focus was put on Steve, and Kenny Irwin, being that both drivers were the winners of the 2 other NASCAR division's rookie of the year honors just last year. Steve's shocking crash in Atlanta after only running in 2 previous races immediately changed things. He is now not only finally off the crutches, but for the most part not even using the cane anymore, although he does still have a slight limp.
| ''I go back to the orthopedic surgeon in three weeks, June 16, and on the last visit he said the bone was almost 90 percent healed and he felt when I came back he could give me the clearance to get back in a race car. We don't want to rush things, and he wants to be sure the bone is upwards of 90 percent, so if we do bump it again we won't sustain another injury that will set us back. |
For now the #1 Pennzoil team has an interim driver in Darrell Waltrip, and the knowledge that Steve's recovery is advancing at top speed. Hope shines through for the fans too, as it has already been announced that Steve will test and qualify at Indianapolis in July for The Brickyard 400 on August 1st. However, as many a racecar driver, it is nearly impossible to keep Steve from wanting to climb into the car yesterday! Luckily he is surrounded by an incredible support system, from his wonderful family, to a top-notch racing team such as DEI backing him.
| ''It means everything to me to get back in that car. What race car and where is something we're still discussing. I want to be back in my car, but we're dedicated to Darrell. We're not really sure right now, but we're talking about it." |
This does not change the fact that there are some emotionally important races coming up in July that Steve would like to run at. Running at Daytona under the lights for the first time would be special, and Pocono is also another track he'd like to go to. But if Steve could have just one race to be his comeback race, it would be the Jiffy Lube 300 in Louden on July 12th. Growing up in Long Island, and racing in the Featherlight Modified tour for many years, this is the closest thing to a "home track" as Steve has on the Winston Cup circut.
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"New Hampshire is a big race for me. I'm from that area so I'd love to be able to make it back by then. I've been lobbying hard with the boss man (Dale Earnhardt), trying to see if we can get me in a car for that race."
''We're not really prepared to run two teams out of our shop just yet. We might run one race. I would really like to race New Hampshire, because it is a special place for me, as one of the places where I started racing. Pocono is another good one. And who wants to miss running under the lights at Daytona in July. Those are three good ones in July that I don't want to miss. But right now we're just trying to put the right deal together to try to get me back in a race car for the month of July." ''There are other teams looking for drivers, and we're hoping we can get with a team, if not our own.'' |
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