Dan Pardus Official Web Site-Press Release

June 21, 2000

HELLO AMERICA!

Thanks to the Motorsports Media, we welcome new Dan Fans.

Dan Pardus attracted the attention of the Motorsports Media on Thursday at Pocono. Dan had garnered the outside pole position with a blistering lap of 54.248 seconds over the 2.5 mile triangular track. With a speed of 165.905, both Dan and Pole-sitter, Tim Steele, had exceeded the previous ARCA qualifying track record.

On Saturday, it wasn’t long after the race start that TV announcers Eli Gold and Buddy Baker recognized the driving ability of Dan Pardus. Tim Steele took the lead at the start of the race and opened up a wide lead from the rest of the field, except he could not drive away from Dan. Dan followed in his tracks and by lap 10, Dan was on the back bumper of Tim’s car. Buddy Baker commented, "This is the making of a good story. “Tim Steele has the best equipment money can buy, while Dan Pardus is a young racer who is developing well. He reallly wants to be a race car driver.” Buddy added, “Dan’s making a name for himself. He’s learning the car and hanging to the bottom. He’s driving into the corners better than Steele.” Soon after Dan and Tim were driving side by side, and on Lap 16 Dan took over the top spot. Glenn Jarrett, TV Pit Road commentator quipped, “I am really impressed with this young man.”

Dan’s lead was widening when the first caution came on Lap 19 because of oil on the track from the car of Brian Ross. The field pitted, and Dan with the help of Brett Bodine’s Winston Cup pit crew had a good pit stop and was in third place at the restart.

Dan raced in the top five for the next thirty plus laps, always in sight of the leader, Kerry Earnhardt. A green flag pit stop was scheduled for lap 56. But on lap 53, Dan’s car slowed on the back stretch. Eli Gold announced, “It’s looks like Dan Pardus is out of gas. This could be trouble on this flat track if he can not make it back to pit road.” Buddy Baker added, “Oh, Boy!”

Dan rocked the car back and forth to get more gas to the motor and was able to roll into the pits. When things happen, they happen. The filler nozzle on the first gas can malfunctioned and fuel would not go into the car. The second fuel can worked, but the malfunction and a missing lug nut resulted in a 48.6 second pit stop. The car exited pit road short of enough gas to complete the race. A caution came on the next lap when car #38 Damon Lusk ran out of gas and his car stalled on the track. Dan made another pit stop to pick up the second can of fuel. The caution period was extended when the #47 car of John Herb ran out of fuel before the restart.

Glenn Jarrett explained to the TV audience the malfunctioning fuel can nozzle from Dan’s pit. The caution continued, as yet another car stalled and had to be pushed off the track.

The race resumed with 15 laps to go with Dan being the last car on the lead lap in 8^th place.

Undaunted, Dan began his charge forward, first passing lapped cars on the restart, and then driving past AJ Henriksen and Morgan Shepard to move into 6^th place. Brian Ross's engine failed without bringing out a caution. With six laps to go, Dan was following Frank Kimmel and Tim Steele. Dan “rattled their cages” and on Lap 76, with Kimmel and Steele driving side by side, they touched and Dan drove underneath and took over 4^th place. Dan did not let up, driving harder to reel in Ed Berrier in 3^rd place, who replaced driver Shawna Robinson on the first caution On the white flag lap, Dan came up close enough to lift the air off Ed’s car and drove on by. Buddy Baker exclaimed, “WOW!”. Eli Gold added, “Boy, that was a gutsy move.” Dan finished 3^rd, matching his best ARCA finish.

In the post race TV interview with ARCA’s Don Radebaugh, Dan stated, “This was a great day for Jim and Judie Motorsports and D&M Motorsports. We have a great team, I want to thank Larry Moore our crew chief, a great addition to the team, and Tony Furr of Hendrick’s Motorsports who has been a big help.” Dan added with a big smile, “ I had a good car, a great engine, and with ten more laps, I think I could have caught Kerry (Earnhardt) and won this thing for all my friends in Daytona Beach and my supporters who have been with me all year.”

Thanks to TNN Motorsports and MRN radio, more folks know the great story of a young man, Dan Pardus, who sold hot dogs at Daytona International Speedway and wanted to be a race car driver.