Fontana, California (February 26, 2006) – David Starr and his Red Horse Racing team laid down another solid performance as they guided their No. 11 Toyota Tundra to a 12th place finish in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the California Speedway on Friday night.
“It wasn’t the finish we had hoped for but we are getting there,” Starr said. “These Toyota Tundra’s are unbelievable. Jamie (Jones, crew chief) and the guys on this team gave me an awesome truck right off the trailer and the set-up package was a little new to me but man it was awesome. With a little more time in this truck and with this team, I think it will only be a matter of time that we will be running up front in these races. ”
Starr started his Red Horse Racing Tundra for the 100-lap event from the 19th position. Despite having a disappointing qualifying run, Starr was able to move quickly through traffic during the race and had advanced to the 13th position by the first restart of the day on lap 10. However, Starr radioed crew chief Jamie Jones that he had been driving too deeply into the corner and was tight off (the corner) in turn four. Starr waited until the second of the eight cautions of the evening on lap 19 when he came down pit road for the adjustments he needed.
With track bar and air pressure adjustments complete, Starr returned to the track and radioed back that the truck was a little better but was still tight from the center off of two – but mainly off of turn-four. Starr managed to keep control of the race truck while the team used pit strategy when caution was displayed for the fourth time on lap 43. Jones made the call to stay out on the track which enabled Starr to advance to the ninth place position for the restart.
Starr battled back and forth on the track but still was tight off the corner and was looking forward to the next trip down pit lane to make the adjustments. That opportunity came under caution on lap 59 allowing the Red Horse team to make a wedge adjustment on their Toyota Tundra as well as put on four fresh tires and take on fuel. The changes helped Starr on the track during the green flag action where he battled on the inside and in the middle passing his competitors with the look of ease.
Starr had advanced to the 8th position on lap 68 when the truck picked up a large vibration in the right front which forced the No. 11 Tundra high up the track. While the team debated its strategy to pit under the green flag - lady luck came to call when another caution came out allowing the team to come down pit road to put on four Goodyear tires.
At the restart on lap 75 Starr encouraged the team when he said – “let’s go to the front boys.” Starr restarted 20th and managed to safely move forward in the field during the last quarter of the race and bring the Red Horse Tundra home in the 12th place position at the nights end.
“It was just an awesome race tonight,” Starr stated. “I can’t tell you how great this team is – everyone is united in one goal and it shows in our progression. After I slid up the track I knew there was something wrong with the tire and it was pure luck when the caution came out allowing us to pit. Jamie Jones gave me an strong truck this week and I am getting used to these Toyota trucks and the set-up that is given to me – and am really excited about what I have seen so far in two races. We’ll this 12th place finish and head home to get ready for Atlanta.”
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is off for the next two weekends but springs back to action on March 17th at the Atlanta Motorspeedway. For more information on Red Starr Racing and David Starr visit their websites at www.RedHorseRacing.net and www.DavidStarr.com.
Red Horse Racing's ownership consists of general manager Tom DeLoach,, a former Mobil Corp. executive; and Jeff Hammond, a NASCAR Nextel Cup championship crew chief now serving as an analyst for FOX Sports. DeLoach and Hammond also own and operate PIT Instruction and Training LLC, the number one pit crew training center in the world.