Catchfence

Steve Park’s long and successful racing career has taken him all over the map – from his days running the short tracks of the northeast to racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Dale Earnhardt Sr.

The winding road has had its up and downs, and it has taken him back to the beginning, as he prepares to enter his second season of his second go-around in the NASCAR Camping World Series East. When he first came through the series back in 1996, it was known as the NASCAR Busch North Series and primarily based in the New England and New York. Park took on the likes of Dave Dion, Kelly Moore, and the late Stub Fadden – guys who have made their careers on the bullrings around the region.

Fast forward more than a decade later. The series has evolved, stretching from its New England roots down the Atlantic Coast to South Carolina — where the 2009 season will kick off with Saturday’s season opener at the historic Greenville Pickens Speedway. The faces behind the wheel have changed to, as a fresh crop of development drivers look to replace the likes of Joey Logano, Trevor Bayne and Austin Dillon as stars-of-tomorrow who made their mark in the series and are now looking to establish themselves in one of NASCAR’s three national series.

“Ricky Craven and I were talking about that,” said Park of his fellow former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran. “We never had the opportunity like this. If we wanted to get the attention of a Cup owner, we had to run 100 short-track races or five races in one weekend just for the chance that somebody might notice you. Now there’s a great division that gives these young guys a showcase to show their talent.”

- NASCAR Local Racing