NASCAR Trucks: David Starr Ready for High Finish at Portland
17 June 1999
Ft. Worth, Texas - Fans looking for the familiar white No. 73 of David Starr at Portland are going to be searching the track in vain. Instead, turn your binoculars to the black No. 23 Red Line Oil Chevrolet. This is because Starr will be "pinch-hitting" for regular driver Phil Bonifield during the Grainger Industrial Supply 225K on June 18. "Joey (Sonntag, owner of Starr's No. 73 Chevrolet Silverado) thought that it would be a good idea to take a week or two off and let the team catch up. We just came off a great run at Texas, but have never raced a road course before so we have no idea on setup or anything," Starr explained. "So far we've raced the Sonntag Redi-Mix Concrete truck more that we thought we would at this point in the season so he wanted to let the guys rest a bit and fix our two trucks up to where they should be. "This is where Phil (Bonifield, owner of the No. 23) comes in," Starr continued. "He offered me his seat for Portland so that I could continue to gain experience and keep my position in the Rookie points chase. I don't really know what to expect since my entire career has been on ovals. This will be the first time where I will have to turn right and not look to see if anyone is in the crosswalk," Starr joked. "Seriously, I do need thank Phil for the opportunity to drive his truck and represent Red Line Oil." A new addition to the Craftsman Truck Series schedule, the 1.967-mile road course of Portland International Raceway will host both the Craftsman Truck Series and the CART Champ Cars this weekend. The races are part of the annual Rose Festival, a major event in the community. "Nobody in the trucks knows the line around that track since nobody in the trucks has raced it before. But I might have one small advantage," Starr said. "When I was growing up my father was crewchief for Tony Bettenhausen. He has been to Portland lots of times. I think I'll wander over to Tony's garage area and ask him for advice on how to get around this track." Like Starr, Bettenhausen is a Texan, and is now owner of the Epson car driven by Shigeaki Hattori on the CART Tour. NASCAR has decreed that all trucks should be prepared to race in the rain, if necessary, a first for the series. Goodyear has developed a grooved rain tire and all trucks will be fitted with windshield wipers and defrosters. The possibility of racing in wet conditions extends to all road courses, including next week's Watkins Glen event, and could play a major factor in the outcome. "I don't know what the weather report says, but this could get interesting," Starr mused. "Can you imagine? My first time on a road course race and it rains. One or the other is tough enough, but both at the same time? " The Grainger Industrial Supply 225K will be held on Friday, June 18 at 9:00 p.m. EDT. Fans can catch the action on ESPN and MRN radio. Qualifications take place a day earlier at 5:30 p.m. EDT. A resident of Ft. Worth, Starr currently stands 23rd in the overall points standings and third in the USG SHEETROCK Brand Rookie-of-the-Year standings. He also races a limited Winston West schedule in the #35 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. For more information visit his web site at www.davidstarr.com.