Parker Jr unsure of future.

Hank Parker Jr has been hotly tipped to follow Busch Series rival Jamie McMurray into the Winston Cup next year but the driver of the #36 Jesel Motorsport Dodge says he is unsure of his situation with a lot hanging on his current sponsors GNC.

With the current 'Young Guns' trend in full flow thanks to the exploits of messers Johnson, Newman, Kenseth, Earnhardt Jr, Busch etc, 27-year-old Parker Jr finds himself in an enviable position.

The Denver born driver has two wins in 122 Busch Series starts and is currently 14th in the drivers standings with the new-for-2002 Busch Series Dodge Intrepid. But despite the progress made with the new chassis, nothing is set in stone for 2003 yet.

While the results in the new car have been inconsistent from time to time and another (part) change in ownership hasn't helped behind the scenes, sole team boss Wayne Jesel and enthusiastic sponsors GNC Live Well seem to be on the verge of something big. However as Parker Jr realises only too well, sponsorship is the key.

"I'm not sure where I'll end up next year," said Parker, who has been linked to a drive with BAM Racing in 2003 and recently tested a Dodge for Winston Cup team owner Ray Evernham at Kentucky. "There are still some options I'm looking at. I'm kind of in a holding pattern until GNC decides whether or not they're coming back. It's hard to sit back while other drivers are finalizing their 2003 plans, but GNC has done a lot for me, and I'd like to work with them if they stay in the sport."

If GNC decide to leave Jesel Motorsports all would not be lost for although the company have been very aggressive during their short tenure in the world of NASCAR, the team's tie in to Dodge could be a saving grace.

Jesel has already been linked with both Evernham and Roger Penske's team (which seems certain to switch to Dodge next year) as either a junior-arm or a Dodge development team and Parker's recent test with Evernham may have been something more than just an aero-evaluation.

Parker, who has yet to start a Winston Cup event, was delighted with the opportunity and made it clear that he would be more than willing to do it again!

"I'm honoured they even thought of me," he stated. "Ray (Evernham) and the Dodge engineers wanted to try some different stuff, and they asked if I would go down and drive for them. It took me about a half-second to say yes. I have nothing but respect for Ray and the entire Dodge program, so it was a no-brainer.

"When Ray Evernham asks you to do something for him, you don't say no. I told them I'm there whenever they need me. I'd definitely like to be known as the 'go-to guy' when Dodge needs someone to test. I had a great time, and I'd do it again any day, anywhere, anytime."

But when quizzed about his future, he remained unmoved.

"As far as going to Winston Cup, I've said a number of times that I want to wait on the right opportunity. Jimmie (Johnson) and Ryan Newman have really set the bar high. They are both with top-notch organizations, and they're both capable of winning on any given weekend. If I can, I'd like to hold out for a situation like either one of them are in."

With or without GNC that opportunity might be coming sooner than he would have us believe.