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NASCAR Trucks: David Starr to start tenth in Florida Dodge Dealers 250

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Daytona Beach, Fla - David Starr and the TKO Motorsports team were very optimistic heading into qualifying Tuesday at Daytona International Speedway.

Starr, driving the # 41 Dodge had been having great success practicing in preparation for Fridays running of the Florida Dodge Dealers 250. Starr and the TKO Motorsports Dodge were sitting third in the practice standings and ready to challenge for the pole position.

Tuesday’s weather was very different from what teams had practiced under on Monday. Many teams were faced with having made changes late Monday with the thought to shake out their set up on Tuesday morning. Unfortunately fog and dampness settled in and cancelled Tuesday practice sessions. Fortunately for Starr and the TKO crew they were ready to go when practice ended on Monday night. The 41 truck needed little work and was expected to contend for a top starting spot..

“The truck is fast and handles really well” said Starr. “We are looking forward to being one of the trucks to beat come qualifying”

Starr sat on the qualifying grid as the fifth truck to make its attempt. He ran two flawless laps in his attempt to unseat the provisional pole sitter. In spite of the superior efforts of the # 41 crew and David Starr running the truck for all it was worth they sat third on the provisional field with a time of 49.582 seconds. The time while not ready to compete for the pole held up well and Starr will start tenth in the field of 38 trucks.

Starr said “ I look forward to the race on Friday, we have a great truck and it handles well. We did not end up as well as I had hoped. We ended up tenth, and I was hoping for a top five spot, but at Daytona it doesn’t really matter where you qualify since the drafting comes into play so much. The truck is really race able, I am excited for my team and we are looking forward to the race.”

TKO Crew Chief Todd Meyers had this to say. “Last year at the race here our truck was much better then we qualified. With this decent qualifying lap we should be able to hang on and run with the boys, we will try to keep our nose clean and have a good day.

Tune into ESPN on Friday February 16, at 11:00 AM as David Starr takes the green flag in the inaugural race of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 2001 season.

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.