Silence fell at the Pocono International Raceway as a first lap incident involving DEI teammates Dale Earnhardt Jr and Steve
Park halted the racing action. During the first Lap of the Pennsylvania 500 Rusty Wallace and Steve Park got together exiting turn one, collecting Dale
Earnhardt Jr.
Wallace continued, but Jr and Park entered the slippery infield on the long pond straight. Parks Chevrolet turned sideways, hitting the guardrail. The impact forced Parks car to barrel roll in a horrific crash similar to Davey Allison’s 1992 crash at the speedway. "I really don’t know what happed, someone got in the back and drilled me, and then all hell broke loose behind me", noted Wallace, who had to take his Ford to the garage for repairs. In the moments following the crash Dale Earnhardt Jr ran from his damage car to assist safety working frantically trying to remove park from the carcass of his car.
"Steve and Rusty got together on the back straightaway. Rusty really wouldn’t clear, he came up the racetrack and Steve came down and passed my car, and I drove him into the guardrail. I was trying my damndest to get off the side of Steve’s car because I knew once we hit I would push him over the guardrail into the infield, it’s just a bad deal", stated Earnhardt Jr.
Moments passed like hours, thoughts raced to Park and injuries suffered at Darlington in fall of 2001. Miraculously, Park with assistance walked from the accident, greeted by his teammate. Both drivers were taken to the infield care center and examined by Dr. Theodore Corbin who released Earnhardt, and due to his previous injury held Park for observation.
"I just want to let my Mom and Dad know I’m ok, said Park. Park thanked Safety workers for extracting him from the car. "I tried not to panic, I know not to release the belts, but you try not to have panic set in. I was trapped due to the safety devices and the window openings. It was great to see Dale Jr when I got out of the car."
NASCAR rules require that all competitors wear an approved head and neck restraint device while competing in NASCAR sanctioned events. In the moments following the crash Dale Earnhardt Jr ran from his damage car to assist safety working frantically trying to
remove park from the carcass of his car.
Damage to the guardrail required NASCAR to red flag the event to enact repairs.
