Hank Parker Jr.’s racing career began in local go-kart competition near his hometown of Denver, NC. When he grew a little older, Parker was eager to move to full-size stock cars, but his father wasn’t too sure about Jr.’s newfound hobby. It took some persuading by a family friend, NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, to convince the elder Parker to let his son race. Parker Jr. didn’t disappoint, winning seven feature races in just 18 starts in 1993.

Moving up to Late Model Stocks in 1994, Parker won one race and three poles. He added two more Late Model Stock wins in 1995, earning 10 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes.

Entering the NSACAR All Pro Series in 1996, Parker claimed three wins and two poles in two seasons of competition, winning the title of Most Popular Driver in that series in 1997. That same year, he made his NASCAR Busch Series (NBS) debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida.

In 1998, Parker made just three NBS starts, but returned to full-time competition in 1999.
Driving the No. 53 B.A.S.S (Bass Angler’s Sportsman Society) Chevrolet for this family-owned team, Parker finished second in the rookie-of-the-year standings and 18th in the 1999 NBS championship standings with two top-five and four top-10 finishes.

In 2000, Parker compiled three top-10 finishes in the first six races of the year, including a 10th-place result at Daytona Beach. His first career NBS Bud Pole came in March 2000 at Las Vegas, where Parker set a track record during qualifying. Driving the No. 53 Team Marines Chevrolet, Parker earned five more top-10 finishes in 2000, giving him a 14th-place finish in the drivers’ points standings.

The 2001 season brought several changes, including a new team and a new sponsor. Driving the No. 36 Chevrolet for GNC Live Well and Cicci-Welliver Racing, Parker scored his first NBS victory in April at California Speedway. August brought a new team name, Welliver-Jesel Motorsports and a new crew chief, Gary Cogswell.

The Cosgswell-Parker combination yielded almost immediate results, as the team reeled off an impressive string of five top-10 finishes in the final seven races of the year.

With a switch to Dodge Intrepids, Parker and his No. 36 GNC Live Well team are poised to contend for the 2002 NBS Championship.