Kentucky could be last Busch race for Parker Jr.
By Bob Pockrass
Saturday, June 17, 2006
SPARTA, Ky. - Hank Parker Jr., who has 137 career Busch Series starts but has not run full time in NASCAR since 2004, said Friday that this weekend's stint as a practice/substitute driver could be the final time he steps into a Busch Series car.
Parker will practice the Roush Racing car for Carl Edwards today in preparation for the Saturday running of the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway. With the Craftsman Truck Series running as companion events to the Busch Series the next couple of "double-duty" weekends, Roush Racing will likely have one of its truck drivers stay and practice the Busch car.
Parker, 30, has two career Busch Series wins (at Pikes Peak and California) and also one career Cup start (in 2002 for Ray Evernham at Rockingham). He ran full-time in the truck series in 2004 for Toyota and owner George deBidart.
Parker said he won't say he will never drive again, but he wouldn't unless he is top-notch equipment.
"I'm not going to do it just to be filling a space," said Parker, whose best season came in 2000 when he was 14th in the Busch standings. "It's not like I'm just wanting to hang it up. I've been in this for a long time, been with some teams and have had an opportunity to win a couple of races and been with teams that there is just no way it's going to happen.
"Unless you have the right equipment and the right circumstances, it is very difficult to win races. I'm not going to do it unless I have whatever it takes."
Parker said he and his brother, Billy, and his father are working on putting together a new outdoor television show.
"[Racing] is a big sacrifice. It is a passion of mine," Parker Jr. said. "I love it. It was worth it. But you have to step back and realize that there is more to life than racing. ... I have a wonderful family, a beautiful wife and two beautiful kids.
"I'm starting a hunting show with my dad and my brother. We're really enjoying life."
