Shirley
02-26-2008, 11:36 AM
From the RHR Website:
Monday, 25 February 2008 David Starr followed up his fourth place finish at Daytona with another solid performance in Saturday's San Bernardino County 200 at California Speedway taking 13th in the 200-mile southern California event.
After two successful practice sessions on Thursday for the Red Horse Racing team, Friday's inclement weather forced the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to cancel qualifying, resulting in a starting grid set by the 2007 owner's point standings. This put Starr in the fourth row to take the green flag in the eighth starting position.
When the green flag flew, Starr shifted into gear, ready to show what his No. 11 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra could do. But, in only five laps the first caution of the day would wave for a single truck incident along the backstretch. Crew chief Jamie Jones chose not to pit under the caution, a decision that moved Starr to ninth for the lap nine restart. Four laps after the restart, caution waved once again, this time for debris. Starr radioed he was a "little free on entry and getting to the center" prompting air pressure and trackbar adjustments along with four tires and fuel on the first pit stop. Starr came back out to restart lap 18 in the 15th spot.
The No. 11 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra held steady in the 14th position before taking 13th on lap 21. On lap 43, Starr radioed he was having a "hard time getting in to turn three" and "had to come off the gas in one and two." The third caution of the day for debris in turn three brought the field down pit road on lap 46. The Red Horse Racing over-the-wall crew worked quickly to add a complete set of Goodyear tires and fuel, again making slight air pressure and trackbar adjustments to help with handling issues. Starr was able to gain five positions thanks to his crew, breaking in to the top-ten and lining up eighth for the lap 49 restart.
Starr had no complaints on the radio but dropped to 11th by lap 78. The last round of pit stops came under green flag conditions on lap 84 with Starr scored in the seventh spot. The No. 11 Red Horse Racing team changed four tires, topped off fuel as well as making a few changes to improve handling of their No. 11 Toyota Tundra. Starr praised the adjustments and improved his track position once back on the track. Unable to advance in the closing laps, Starr held off the competition crossing the finish line 13th.
"I just could not get through the center," Starr said. "I had to let off the gas to make it turn through the center. We worked hard all day and did our best out there. I'm proud of our Red Horse Racing team and want to thank all of the guys for their hard work. This is not the finish we had hoped for after a fourth last week at Daytona, but we will take it and go back to the shop and get ready for Atlanta in a few weeks."
Combined with the top-five scored in the season's first event, Starr and his No. 11 Red Horse Racing team remain fourth in the Craftsman Truck Series point's standings. The next event for the Craftsman Truck Series comes at the 1.54-mile track of Atlanta Motor Speedway for the American Commercial Lines 200 on March 7, 2008.
Monday, 25 February 2008 David Starr followed up his fourth place finish at Daytona with another solid performance in Saturday's San Bernardino County 200 at California Speedway taking 13th in the 200-mile southern California event.
After two successful practice sessions on Thursday for the Red Horse Racing team, Friday's inclement weather forced the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to cancel qualifying, resulting in a starting grid set by the 2007 owner's point standings. This put Starr in the fourth row to take the green flag in the eighth starting position.
When the green flag flew, Starr shifted into gear, ready to show what his No. 11 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra could do. But, in only five laps the first caution of the day would wave for a single truck incident along the backstretch. Crew chief Jamie Jones chose not to pit under the caution, a decision that moved Starr to ninth for the lap nine restart. Four laps after the restart, caution waved once again, this time for debris. Starr radioed he was a "little free on entry and getting to the center" prompting air pressure and trackbar adjustments along with four tires and fuel on the first pit stop. Starr came back out to restart lap 18 in the 15th spot.
The No. 11 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra held steady in the 14th position before taking 13th on lap 21. On lap 43, Starr radioed he was having a "hard time getting in to turn three" and "had to come off the gas in one and two." The third caution of the day for debris in turn three brought the field down pit road on lap 46. The Red Horse Racing over-the-wall crew worked quickly to add a complete set of Goodyear tires and fuel, again making slight air pressure and trackbar adjustments to help with handling issues. Starr was able to gain five positions thanks to his crew, breaking in to the top-ten and lining up eighth for the lap 49 restart.
Starr had no complaints on the radio but dropped to 11th by lap 78. The last round of pit stops came under green flag conditions on lap 84 with Starr scored in the seventh spot. The No. 11 Red Horse Racing team changed four tires, topped off fuel as well as making a few changes to improve handling of their No. 11 Toyota Tundra. Starr praised the adjustments and improved his track position once back on the track. Unable to advance in the closing laps, Starr held off the competition crossing the finish line 13th.
"I just could not get through the center," Starr said. "I had to let off the gas to make it turn through the center. We worked hard all day and did our best out there. I'm proud of our Red Horse Racing team and want to thank all of the guys for their hard work. This is not the finish we had hoped for after a fourth last week at Daytona, but we will take it and go back to the shop and get ready for Atlanta in a few weeks."
Combined with the top-five scored in the season's first event, Starr and his No. 11 Red Horse Racing team remain fourth in the Craftsman Truck Series point's standings. The next event for the Craftsman Truck Series comes at the 1.54-mile track of Atlanta Motor Speedway for the American Commercial Lines 200 on March 7, 2008.