Inside Line Promotions - ALGER, Wash. (Aug. 11, 2013) - Given the circumstances, Trey Starks is satisfied with the result on Saturday at Skagit Speedway.
Starks overcame a variety of issues from qualifying until the checkered flag in the feature to record a fourth-place finish, which was his 14th top five of the season.
"We made the best of that whole cluster of a situation," he said. "I was really happy with the finish from where we started and all the trouble that we had."
It began in time trials when he was forced to pull into the pits during his attempt.
"I went out for my qualifying lap and it popped out of gear," he said. "I had to go back in and adjust the shifter."
Starks was given one lap at the end and timed in eighth quickest. His time was taken into account for the heat race, when he finished third, but Starks was forced to start last during the feature.
"We started in the back and on our warm-up lap I noticed that it felt like the steering wheel was coming off," he said. "I looked down and the steering bracket that goes over the base where the hub is to keep the steering box in place broke. The steering column was moving back and forth on me."
After taking the green flag, Starks was about to pull into the pits before a red flag was waved on the opening lap.
"At that point I was about to pull in because the steering box was jammed forward and my hands were jammed into the dash and gauges," he said.
The team hustled to change the bracket during the red flag.
"A lot of guys helped and we're thankful for that," he said. "That was kind of a desperate time. We had to put what was left of the old bracket on top of the new bracket because my fuel valve was still attached to the old bracket."
Starks made it back onto the track and began to rally toward the front.
"The steering box was still moving around on me," he said. "It was hard to hang on to the car. We kept picking off cars one by one. We got a couple of needed cautions and we got another red with one or two laps to go. We plugged our radiator so we dumped a lot of water out during the red. The temperature was really up and we were kinda nervous. It was a stressful main."
Starks, who restarted fifth after that final red flag, picked up one additional position on the last lap to score the fourth-place result.
He is scheduled to return to Skagit Speedway on Saturday for a tune-up in the 410ci class before the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series tackles the track on Aug. 30-31.
QUICK RESULTS -
Aug. 10 - Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash. - Qualifying: 8; Heat race: 3 (2); Feature: 4 (19).
SEASON STATS -
28 races, 2 wins, 14 top fives, 20 top 10s, 23 top 15s, 27 top 20s
UP NEXT -
Saturday at Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash.
MEDIA LINKS -
Website: http://www.TreyStarksRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/treystarks55
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TreyStarksRacing?fref=ts
VIDEO -
Here's a link to Trey's win at Skagit Speedway on May 25 with highlights beginning approximately 4:45 into the video: http://youtu.be/JlaX5Lvj4VI
Check out some in-car footage of Trey provided by Downforce Designs: http://youtu.be/dv2_v22rcO4
Here is a link to check out highlights from Trey's victory at Skagit Speedway on May 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axHzc9tXVaQ&feature=youtu.be
APPAREL -
Starks has men's and women's long-sleeve shirts, t-shirts and hoodies available at any race he attends and at http://www.TreyStarksRacing.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT - Blue Dot Fabrications
Blue Dot Fabrications is owned by Trey's uncle, Dean Starks, who fabricates various types of vehicles, including vintage cars and road race cars. Blue Dot Fabrications even built quarter midgets when Trey began racing.
"Blue Dot Fabrications is another business that has been around my family my entire life," Starks said. "My uncle, Dean, has always been around ready to fix anything that gets dinged up at the track."
Starks would like to thank his sponsors, including Starks Timber Processing, BR Motorsports, King Racing Products, Masco Petroleum and SpeedMart for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS -
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations, media management and merchandising services for sprint car teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and your sponsors' return on investment.
To meet the media relations needs of your team, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or sprintcarreporter@yahoo.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.insidelinepromotions.com.
- Admin Account on Aug 11, 2013
- Article Date: 8/11/2013 by Shawn Miller