kat
10-05-2000, 06:26 PM
Dang, he's just a baby! :( :p :(
Parker Jr., Homestead quite a combo
By Marty Smith
NASCAR Online
CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 5, 2000)
Hank Parker Jr. will celebrate his 26th birthday Saturday. When the NASCAR Busch Series gets to Homestead-Miami Speedway next month, he'll celebrate another one - the Marines Corps' 225th.
To honor his primary sponsor's special day, Parker Jr. will carry a commemorative paint scheme on the No. 53 Team Marines Chevrolet in the HotWheels.com 300 at the 1.5-mile superspeedway. And, judging by his past success at Homestead, Parker could well blow out all 225 candles at once.
He loves the place, and with good reason.
"I love Homestead. I've raced there ever since they opened the track in the Slim Jim All Pro Series, so I really know it well," Parker Jr. said. "For example, Mark Martin has so many miles on all these racetracks like Charlotte, so for me to go out and beat him is a difficult task.
"Well when he comes to Homestead, I've got way more miles that he's got. There's nobody else down there that has more laps that I do, so I feel like that gives me a little advantage. It allows you to drive the racetrack a little differently than most people do."
The results prove it.
The young driver's NASCAR Busch Series debut came at Homestead in 1997, where he notched a 23rd-place run. Last season, he had arguably the best racecar on the track for much of the event before settling into a fourth-place finish.
"It's a little depressing to look back at that race sometimes," Parker Jr. said. "It was awesome and I really had a good time in that race. I felt like we should've won that race, but hey, it was pretty cool to be that good. We realized how young we were and how much we still had to learn at that point, so we walked away content but still a little disappointed.
"This year should be fun, too. I'm real excited about the Marines birthday and the new paint scheme. It's just awesome. I can't wait to put that car on the track. We're seeking revenge there this year."
It should be quite a birthday party.
Parker Jr., Homestead quite a combo
By Marty Smith
NASCAR Online
CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 5, 2000)
Hank Parker Jr. will celebrate his 26th birthday Saturday. When the NASCAR Busch Series gets to Homestead-Miami Speedway next month, he'll celebrate another one - the Marines Corps' 225th.
To honor his primary sponsor's special day, Parker Jr. will carry a commemorative paint scheme on the No. 53 Team Marines Chevrolet in the HotWheels.com 300 at the 1.5-mile superspeedway. And, judging by his past success at Homestead, Parker could well blow out all 225 candles at once.
He loves the place, and with good reason.
"I love Homestead. I've raced there ever since they opened the track in the Slim Jim All Pro Series, so I really know it well," Parker Jr. said. "For example, Mark Martin has so many miles on all these racetracks like Charlotte, so for me to go out and beat him is a difficult task.
"Well when he comes to Homestead, I've got way more miles that he's got. There's nobody else down there that has more laps that I do, so I feel like that gives me a little advantage. It allows you to drive the racetrack a little differently than most people do."
The results prove it.
The young driver's NASCAR Busch Series debut came at Homestead in 1997, where he notched a 23rd-place run. Last season, he had arguably the best racecar on the track for much of the event before settling into a fourth-place finish.
"It's a little depressing to look back at that race sometimes," Parker Jr. said. "It was awesome and I really had a good time in that race. I felt like we should've won that race, but hey, it was pretty cool to be that good. We realized how young we were and how much we still had to learn at that point, so we walked away content but still a little disappointed.
"This year should be fun, too. I'm real excited about the Marines birthday and the new paint scheme. It's just awesome. I can't wait to put that car on the track. We're seeking revenge there this year."
It should be quite a birthday party.