Mooresville, N.C. -- (Fri. Jan 2, 1998) Steve Park expects the #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo to pass cars on the track during the 1998 Winston Cup season, and Friday's announcement by Dale Earnhardt Inc. Team Manager Ty Norris should help Park also gain positions during pit stops.

Norris announced the crew members who will service the Pennzoil Monte Carlo during pit stops in 1998. The roster includes: rear tire changer Chad Knause, jackman Walter Smith and front tire carrier Gary Smith.

Knause will serve as the DEI team's car chief and the Smith brothers, who own two Nautilus centers in the Charlotte area, will supervise the pit stops practices as well as the team's physical conditioning. The trio earned All-Pro pit crew honors during their careers at Hendrick Motorsports. Knause worked for Jeff Gordon's two-time Winston Cup championship team since its inception in 1993 and the Smiths have worked for Hendrick since 1987 including Terry Labonte's 1996 championship team.

The Pennzoil pit crew also includes front tire changer Travis Block, gas man Troy Cole, catch can man Charles Dickey and rear tire carrier Kevin Manion. Block played a key role in the quick pit stops by Kyle Petty last year. Manion, Block and Dickey will also work in the DEI shop as mechanics. Cole is the team's truck driver.

Norris said selecting a quality pit crew is critical in any team's performance and often an overlooked factor in races.

"We have excellent people building our engines and working on our cars. There is no way in the world we are going to work that hard to gain two or three tenths of a second on the track and then and lose it in the pits," Norris said.

"With the experience we have on this Pennzoil crew, if we are not the quickest crew in the pits then I expect us to be at least one of the best out there. Our goal was to establish a top notch pit crew and I think we have more than exceeded our expectation."

The Pennzoil team is already practicing pit stops and begins an extensive month of testing prior to the Daytona 500 on Feb. 15. Pre-season test sessions for Park include:

Jan. 12, 13 & 14 - Daytona

Jan. 20, 21 & 22 - Talladega

Jan. 26, 27 & 28 - Rockingham

For More Information Contact: Drew Brown, Pennzoil Racing, (704) 895-3651

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