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NASCAR Trucks: Starr snaps streak, but it's a good thing

14 April 2000

At the conclusion of the NAPA 250, David Starr found himself in a strange 
position - he was still running on the 0.526-mile track of Martinsville 
Speedway. That's right; Starr finally snapped his streak of nine 
consecutive DNF's (Did Not Finish). This streak has lasted through two 
seasons of Craftsman Truck Series racing and nearly eight months.

"I'll tell you that was one time when a 20th place finish felt like a win," 
Starr said. "Now that the bad streak is over, I would like to start a good 
one and be running at the end of all the rest of the events."

This DNF streak began August 20, 1999 at Gateway International Raceway. 
During this time Starr retired to the garage prematurely with three engine 
failures, accidents (also three times), transmission, handling, and rear 
end problems (once each).

Starr began the NAPA 250 in 25th position, and took the checkered flag in  
 the 20th spot, four laps down to the winner. He took home a paycheck of 
$7,140 for his efforts, and it was the 18th time in his 32 career Truck 
Series starts that he has finished better than, or equal to, his starting 
position.

For the first time this season Starr was behind the wheel of the No. 7 
Conely Engines Chevrolet Silverado. He ran for this same team once last 
season.

"The Conely Engines Chevrolet was great, but we lost the brakes somewhere 
around lap 80. I was trying to take care of the truck and not get on the 
binders too hard, but I must have worked them more than I thought. It's 
nearly impossible to race a tight track like Martinsville without brakes 
but we did it. And believe it or not, I was still passing trucks right 
through the entire race.

"I think that if the brakes held for the entire race that this could have 
been a Top-10 truck. It was that good. The crew did a super job setting it 
up and we had some fast pit stops. I can't wait to get out and race with 
them again."

The plan is to skip the next NCTS race at Portland, then Starr will again 
pair with Conely at the Ram Tough 200 by Pepsi on May 7 at Gateway 
International Raceway. Ironically, this is the same track that began the 
Starr's lengthy DNF streak.

In the meantime, Starr will compete in the Winston West races in Las Vegas 
on April 22, and the following week on April 29 at the California Speedway. 
Both of these events will be in the Team Texas Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

For more information on his race activities, visit Starr's official web 
site at www.davidstarr.com.