Race Weekend Central

David Starr Driver Diary: Rain Delays & New Opportunities

I’ve been very busy since the last time I updated you. Not only have I been busy working with my HT Motorsports team and David Starr Racing, but I’ve also been spending a lot of quality time being a dad. Being with my son, David Starr Jr., and my wife Kim has just been awesome. He is so much fun and I just enjoy being a dad.

Unfortunately, thanks to a rain delay in Kansas a few weeks ago, I’ve spent a little more time away from my family then I would like. After battling with the rain on Saturday, NASCAR postponed the race, and it had to be pushed to Monday because of an IRL race at the Kansas Speedway on Sunday. When they made the call on Saturday, I went back to the hotel room and hung out. On Sunday I hung out with the team, watched the incredible Sprint Cup race at Talladega and the IRL race on TV at the hotel, and just enjoyed some time “off.”

We were excited about racing on Monday, but rain was hanging around and not only was the restart of the race delayed, but the race was actually rain-shortened in the end. Unfortunately, our finishing results don’t tell the whole story of how well we ran. We were running sixth at one point, but then the quarterpanel welds broke and cut the tire, so we had to pit. We fixed the truck, but with the rain we just ran out of time and couldn’t make our way back up in the running order to where we were.

We really thought that if we could have run the whole race, we might have had something for them because the truck was running well. So we ended the weekend with a 17th-place finish, and while it really hurt us in the points, we left there with our heads held high and looking forward to the rest of the year. It’s a long season and our Zachry Toyota Tundra is getting better and better. Hopefully we will get the monkey off of our backs soon and be able to contend for race wins.

Not only have I been behind the wheel of my No. 24 Zachry Toyota, but I’ve recently had the opportunity to drive the Boys will be Boys Racing No. 06 Roni Deutch Tax Center Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series. Trevor Boys called and asked me if I’d like to drive his car during the NASCAR Showdown during the All-Star weekend at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway and I thought it would be a neat experience. I got permission from my truck owner Jim Harris, and with no conflicts I was able to drive the car.

We finished 30th in the Showdown, but it’s a small team with good cars and great people, so it’s exciting for me. We learned a lot in practice and in the race, but we have a lot more to learn. We hope to have a better car when we make a qualifying attempt on Thursday for the Coca-Cola 600. I’m really looking forward to qualifying, but by the time you read this, the field will already be set.

Hopefully we will have made it, but if not, it’s still been fun. It’s just a different experience from the Camping World Truck Series. Being in that atmosphere, seeing all of the people in the garage on race day, it’s kind of crazy. It’s a lot of fun, but my heart is still with the Truck Series.

After Charlotte, the CWTS heads to Dover and I’m really looking forward to it. With the guys that I have on my race team and the trucks they have been giving me, I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of my Zachry Toyota Tundra and race. I think we can be really strong right out of the chute and get a top five; maybe even win the race if it all lines up right. We just need to get our momentum back and I think we can really make a run at it.

Unfortunately, even though we’ve had some very exciting racing in NASCAR recently, the thing a lot of people want to talk about is the recent enforcement of the NASCAR drug policy. I have definite opinions on the subject. We are all living a dream by being here in NASCAR and racing for a living. I know the sacrifices you have to make and the hard work that it takes to make it this level. I’ve been working at this since I was a little boy, as have most of the drivers and people in this sport.

I just can’t imagine someone jeopardizing all of that hard work by doing any kind of drugs or anything that NASCAR deems illegal. I have never done drugs, I don’t drink and I don’t even like taking aspirin. I have no tolerance for people who mess around with drugs in our sport.

I applaud NASCAR for what they are doing and being on top of it. I definitely stand behind them for their decisions and enforcement of this rule.

And finally, we have now re-launched our new and improved fan club and I’m really excited about it. Our new Fan Club President, Lori Billings, has worked hard to get it going and has done a great job. It’s taken us a little while to get it going, but we have changed a lot since last year and we think it’s a first-class product. It’s humbling and I’m honored to know my fans care enough to support me through the fan club. I hope they aren’t disappointed!

About the author

The Frontstretch Staff is made up of a group of talented men and women spread out all over the United States and Canada. Residing in 15 states throughout the country, plus Ontario, and widely ranging in age, the staff showcases a wide variety of diverse opinions that will keep you coming back for more week in and week out.

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