Eddie Sharp Racing announced on Friday that they’ve signed Steve Park to drive the No. 41 Toyota in the upcoming Chicagoland Speedway race on August 27th.
“I couldn’t be happier to run with ESR in the Truck Series,” Park said on SpeedTV.com. “I have been friends with Eddie Sharp for a long time, and I have such a respect for what Eddie has built. It is always fun to be around Eddie, and I know for a fact, with his reputation in the ARCA Racing Series, that the entrance into the Truck Series will bring success.”
Eddie Sharp Racing so far has been fielding ARCA teams this year, though is now set to make their truck series debut with Park.
“To have a guy of Steve Park’s caliber driving in the seat for us in this outing makes this event extra special,” Eddie Sharp said. “ESR is taking the next step moving into the NASCAR ranks, and we are working hard to build a strong infrastructure for the organization. Park is a perfect fit for ESR’s premier in the Truck Series.”
Sharp started putting the deal together at the beginning of 2010 in collaboration with Sharp Hartman Racing, which is a result of a 20-year friendship with Carl Hartman.
“It’s going to be great to have Park in the car. I think he’s a great addition to our program,” he said. “You can’t help but love his enthusiasm for the sport. I get excited just being around him. I look forward to working with him.”
Park made his debut in the NCWTS series in 1996 and collected his first win in 2005 at Auto Club Speedway. He also has three wins, 15 top-fives, and 29 top 10s in the Nationwide Series and two wins, 12 top-fives, and 35 top-10s in the Sprint Cup Series.
Park was working his way up through the ranks when a bad wreck at Darlington followed by other unfortunate circumstances, set him back.
Most recently, Park has tried to fight his way back into the top-three NASCAR ranks, driving the No. 36 for Tommy Baldwin Racing at Daytona. After starting outside the top-30, Park avoided trouble and brought the car home in 13th for the team’s highest finish of the year.
