DEI to expand on Park's return?

Leading NASCAR Winston Cup team Dale Earnhardt Incorporated could expand from running a three-car team in NASCAR's top division when the injured Steve Park returns to accommodate the contracted Kenny Wallace who is currently subbing for Park behind the wheel of the No.1 Pennzoil sponsored Chevrolet.

It may be pure speculation but rumours in and around the world of NASCAR suggest that Kenny Wallace could remain with the DEI team in a fourth Chevrolet Monte Carlo when the injured Steve Park returns to action after a lengthy lay-off through injury.

Wallace, younger brother of former Winston Cup Champ Rusty and current Andy Petree Racing driver Mike, drove the final 12 races of the 2001 season for the DEI team after Park was injured in a Busch Series crash at Darlington on September 1st and signed a one-year contract with DEI during the off-season.

Park still harbours hopes of returning to action at the season-opening Daytona 500 next month although it is more than likely that Wallace, who was third overall on the non-drafting speed charts at the Daytona tests, will start the 2002 season behind the wheel of the No.1 machine.

When Park returns however, murmurs continue to be heard that DEI will somehow continue to accommodate Wallace amongst their NWC driving staff, possibly aboard the No.81 Chevrolet driven at the Daytona tests by Kerry Earnhardt. It did seem slightly strange that DEI should decide to contract Wallace, who will undoubtedly be the target of several other teams when Park returns to the No.1, if Park had planned on missing just one or two events at the start of the year.

The No.81 plate last appeared on the Winston Cup grid in 1998 with Wallace behind the wheel of the Fil Martocchi, Gil Martin owned squad.

Although sponsorship is currently scarce in the Winston Cup arena, DEI are one of the few teams with the facilities to run a successful four car operation and would perhaps appear a more attractive proposition to potential investors due to their continually improving overall package and, of course, their name.