A Femmefan Exclusive
Interview with Racer David Starr – Proof that Nice Guys DO Finish First

By Valerie J. Wood

Don’t be surprised at the quiet intensity of this charming, handsome and laid-back Texan. The Southern drawl is soft, and he speaks with an easy confidence and genuine down-home charm and humility. David Starr is courteous and thoughtful—the kind of young man you just plain enjoy watching succeed because you know he speaks from the heart and it reminds you that good guys do finish first at least some of the time. Known for his sportsmanship and sense of fair play, as well as his enviable considerable talent behind the wheel, this young man has deftly carved a niche for himself in racing. His warm, generous and caring personality shines through in everything he does. A fierce competitor on the track, he is equally at home whether representing his team and sport at racing-related events, giving generously of his personal time to charities, particularly those involving children, or involved in a whirlwind of activities that make one breathless just contemplating them.

In an exclusive interview with Femmefan, David talked about his current racing season, future plans, and truck racing in general. This Houston native is focused on winning a first Championship in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series ( CTS ) and that goal is foremost in his and his team’s mind. His crew chief, veteran Dave McCarty , heads up a top-notch pit crew and the Chevy Silverado teams enjoy the added assistance of factory support in the truck series.

Fans are noticing that the trucks raced are more distinctive and less “generic” looking than Cups or Bush cars. While the old adage of “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” still seems relevant, cars have become almost interchangeable in their body styles, while the trucks still maintain a distinctive manufacturer’s look. Which is something that appeals to the fans of Chevys, Fords, Dodges or Toyotas.

As David pointed out, “t he Series is so competitive now that it’s unbelievable. The competition level was fierce in 2004 and I didn’t think it could get any tougher than what it was. Then you bring Ron Hornaday back, you bring Jimmy Spencer in and Ricky Craven…it just doesn’t stop. The fan base is growing with every race. People love the series because the competition on the racetrack is unbelievable and a lot of the drivers from the NEXTEL Cup Series are now in the NASCAR CTS , which I think is good for the series. People love Truck Series racing because we don’t run 500 mile races, we only run 250 mile races and we drive the wheels off the pickup trucks for two hours—from the time they drop the green to the time they drop the checkered. With all the new additions to the series, it’s only going to get tougher.”

With the recent success of the Busch Series race in Mexico, there is a chance that the CTS may get a date outside the country in the future, which could only help increase the awareness of the Truck Series. Starr’s feelings on that possiblity are that “I’m blessed to be part of the NASCAR CTS and wherever they tell me to race I’ll be happy to go. Whether it’s Mexico, Canada or wherever, I’ll just be glad to be there competing. If we go where the Busch Series raced, it looked like a fun road course to race on and I think the Truck Series would put on a heck of a show there. It would be awesome! If they ever do that, I’ll be looking forward to it and be ready to go.”

The CTS is in its 10 th season, and avid race fans of all series, whether it’s Cup, Busch, IRL or NHRA, are discovering that the quality of racing in this particular circuit is among the most exciting, compelling and non-political of perhaps all the NASCAR series events that are run. Maybe because the CTS is not overblown and over hyped liked much of the Cup racing has become—with teams having four or five separate fully funded rides under one circus tent and budgets that exceed tens of millions per team for the season. CTS is at a comfortable level where quality rules and politics are not the order of the day. It’s the best kept secret in racing right now—but race fans are catching on to the fast-paced, genuine racing, banging and bumping that characterizes a competitive race.

As any true race fan knows, there are drivers and then there are racers. Anyone can be a driver—but not everyone is a racer. A large difference is the mindset. The determination and will to win and the ability to strategize, make the right move at the right time, assess your opponents and take advantage of opportunities that arise on the track are all parts of the intangible elements that are the mark of a racer.

David Starr is a racer. Since 2002, he has piloted the #75 Spears Manufacturing Chevy Silverado, owned by Wayne and Connie Spears. The Spears have been involved in racing for over 25 years, and are a mainstay of CTS racing. Starr ’s racing career began at the age of 14, at a local Houston dirt track. He moved from Street Stocks to late models over the next 7 years, racing “anything I could get my hands on. I knew that every time I got behind the wheel, I would learn a little more and that's what it takes to be a champion. The more you learn and the more you practice, the better you get."

In 1996, Starr competed full-time in the Texas International Drivers Association (TIDA) and became the first rookie to win a TIDA race. Proving that this was not a fluke, he went on to win the Texas Race of Champions at Texas World Speedway and then followed up the next season with three more victories. The next move was to the CTS in 1998. Once again, David proved his mettle and his talent, running selected races on a limited budget.

He caught the eye of Wayne Spears in 2001 when he started five races in the CTS , turning in three top-5 finishes and a top-10 finish in those five events. David ended 2002 with 16 top-10 finishes and 8 top-5’s, and was voted Most Popular Driver in the CTS for the season. He capped off 2002 by winning his first CTS race at Las Vegas in October and finishing 5 th in the points standings.

2003 proved to be a mixed year, as David sustained injuries after a practice session crash in Milwaukee , which left him with a broken right collarbone, and broken bones in both his left hand and left foot. Despite missing 5 races, he wound up 13 th in the point series standings for 2003. As a racer, he admitted that the “hardest part of being injured was watching someone else drive” his race-truck while he was on the mend. But, like everything else in his life, he adopted the attitude of learning from the experience. Now a CTS veteran, Starr still learns from observing other racers, particularly the more experienced drivers like Ted Musgrave , Bobby Hamilton , Johnny Benson and Steve Park —drivers who bring Cup experience to the CTS with them. No ego to check for this remarkable young driver; Starr is refreshingly down-to-earth, humble and appreciative of the opportunities he has had in racing. Opportunities, which he has earned, by the way, through perseverance, performance and sheer talent.

David ’s 2004 season included two more wins and a 6 th place finish in an exciting CTS points race. With the current season at last underway, the eye is on the prize—the championship—for Team Spears.

Starr ’s website ( www.DavidStarr.com) is a marvelous source of information for fans who want to keep up with David ’s racing. It is kept up to date, with photos, results and upcoming appearances, and has a friendly fan-forum for those who want to discuss CTS racing, particularly with other Starr fans. And, he also contributes a driver’s diary at www.frontstretch.com, which is an informative, entertaining behind the scenes look at the truck racing series.

Growing up in a racing family – father Jimmy crewed for Tony Bettenhausen and Ronnie Chumley’s Indy Car teams in the 1970s – David knew from a young age that he wanted to be a racer. And family is paramount to Starr. “We are pretty close knit and my Mom and dad (Ophelia and Jimmy Starr) have supported me 100% in my career choice," David noted. "I have two brothers, Johnny and Jimmy, Jr., and a sister Melissa. And they are all my biggest fans. They come to as many races as they can and I love having them there to support me. Family is definitely important. I’m just a normal guy, with a normal family."

Another important aspect of Starr ’s life is helping those in need, especially children. David feels strongly that "Children are the future of our country. No child should ever have to do without." Through his involvement with Team Texas High Performance Driving School in Houston , he has helped raised over $100,000 for Speedway Children's Charity. "If we all do a small bit, then those less fortunate can have a better life."

He describes himself as ‘blessed because I am able to do what I love. If I never make it any further, well, I’m still living a dream. I have a close-knit family—great parents who have been supportive of my racing.”

I submit that we are all blessed because of men like David Starr , who truly care, take their role in life helping others seriously, and who set out to make a difference in the lives of all they touch.

On any given day, sports news is filled with unsavory items about drugs, steroid usage, college recruitment violations, criminal actions, and more. Racing is one sport where there is truly scant room for anyone who is out of control or abusing substances. And, it’s one sport where egos fairly swiftly separate the “men from the boys” (pardon the expression). A lot of the young drivers coming into the top racing series seem to have garnered an overblown ego to match their hype—and sooner or later, that bubble gets burst when they realize that it’s ability and not their self-importance which is going to win races. While many athletes claim they don’t want to be role models, the inescapable truth is that they are, by virtue of their ability and the exposure in the media. More role models should be like Starr.

David Starr is a refreshingly candid, humble, principled, and straight-shooting man who appreciates and is thankful for the blessings he has been given in life. He enjoys the race fans, and is still amazed at being asked for an autograph. He’s the kind of guy you enjoy pulling for because not only is he a genuinely nice fellow, but his personal and work ethics are the ‘right stuff.’ This is one Starr who is truly down-to-earth.

For information on Valerie Wood's novel, Enforcer, visit http://www.enforcer.fcpages.com/ (Official Website for Enforcer) or http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/14441 (Publisher's Website/read an excerpt).

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