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August 30th.
This Week in Ford Racing: David Starr
David Starr, driver of the No. 10 International MaxxForce Diesel Ford F-150, has one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory at Gateway International Raceway (2004). As the series makes its annual visit to the 1.25-mile facility, Starr finds himself in 11th place in the series standings and only 12 points out of the top 10.
David Starr - No. 10 Int'l MaxxForce Diesel Ford F-150 What are some of the challenges Gateway presents for drivers? "It's a unique race track. One and two are like no other race track we race at while three and four are kind of similar to New Hampshire or Phoenix. It's unique because one and two have such a tight turning radius compared to three and four, but it's a fun place for a race-car driver because you have to change your line and adapt to how your truck is handling. It's just fun. We always put on a good race for the race fans. I like all of the tracks we go to, but Gateway has a soft spot in my heart."
Gateway, Kentucky, Memphis - Places that don't host a Cup race - how do the race fans treat you guys? "There are a lot of race fans in the St. Louis area and you almost feel guilty. You're thankful that the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races there. We put on a good show and they love us. We're like the big show when we get there, but they're so hungry for NASCAR racing that you almost feel guilty and wish that Cup did go there because the race fans are incredible. They've been great to us as a series and me personally over the years. It's a great place. The Busch Series runs there and the Truck Series runs there and they really roll out the red carpet for us. You kind of feel like the Cup guys when you go there because it's just so incredible the way we get treated. You really feel like you're in the big-time when you go to Gateway, so it's a cool place."
Your team has made steady progress through the year. Are you pleased? "I am, but as a competitor I'm a little disappointed. You've got three-time champion Dennis Conner, the Ford F-150 pickup race truck - the one on the track and the one on the road - is a proven winner, and with a teammate like Rick Crawford and Cowboy Starland, his crew chief, I thought we'd have success right off the bat. We've had our growing pains and we're working through those. I was surprised we went through that, but we're starting to really click and come together and get some good finishes now. It says a lot about the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. It's very competitive. The competition level is so deep in this series. There are 30 trucks that could win on any given weekend, so that being said, a new team like ours that wanted to get a quick start over some of these teams that have had their driver, crew chief and team together for four or five years, was asking a lot. It took a while to get on the same page and be competitive. As a competitor, you want it right then. You're impatient, but I feel good about the progress our team at Circle Bar Racing has made and we're really looking forward to the future." So it's a case where you'll probably be hitting your stride at the end of the season and wishing there were more races. "That's so true. We were off a couple of weeks ago and I ran a dirt car at a local dirt track. I was telling some of the fans there that I wish we were racing somewhere in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series that week. I have fun racing the dirt cars when we're off, but as a race-car driver you want to race. A lot of my competitors would probably holler at me if they heard me say this, but I wish the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series had about five, six or seven more races. Regardless, it's equal for everybody. All of our sponsors have done a great job and it takes a while for a new team to come together. It's a neat process to see the progression and watch how it gets better, but as a competitor you want it the first day. Unfortunately, I don't think it can happen that fast, but I'm excited about the progress of the race team and looking forward to what lies ahead." |