Childress team splits with Park
Richard Childress has confirmed that Steve Park will not drive for his team next year. Park has driven for Childress since May, when he took over the ride from Jeff Green. The team also runs Kevin Harvick and Robby Gordon in the Winston Cup
Frequently-injured Park, 36, has not run well in the car. Park won the pole for the summer race at Daytona, but his best finish was eighth at New Hampshire. Park failed to qualify the No. 30 car last week at Talladega, but Childress said the DNQ had nothing to do with the timing of his announcement.
"I want to point out that the performance of the No. 30 team at Talladega last weekend in no way played a role in this decision, and our goal is still to win a race with Steve before the season ends," said Childress. "We're announcing this decision now so Steve will have time to find another ride for 2004 and we will have time to find a driver for the team for next season."
Park has twice been sidelined by major injuries, the first time in 1998, when he missed 15 races after a crash at Atlanta that left him with a broken shoulder and thigh. The second was a concussion at Darlington in 2001. He returned early in 2002, but he has since faced continued questions about his fitness.
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