Inside Line Promotions – CALISTOGA, Calif. (April 4) – Sometimes weird and crazy works.
At least it did for Trey Starks on Saturday at Calistoga Speedway in Calistoga, Calif., where the 15-year-old overcame a couple of wrecks to claim his best career World of Outlaws finish.
“It was definitely the most interesting race day I’ve ever had,” said Starks, who drove from 23rd to 13th in the feature.
The night started with Starks flipping in hot laps after the left front tire detached, which dug the frame into the track and sent him on a ride. The frame and wings were bent, but the team pieced the car together enough for qualifying.
After missing a transfer by one position in his heat race, Starks locked himself into the feature by advancing from the B Main. However, with approximately 10 laps remaining in the feature, Starks spun out in turn three and went to the pits with a flat left rear tire.
As the crew changed the tire, the race went green, which appeared to end Starks’ night. However, a caution on the restart allowed Starks to return to the track on the same lap. He then worked his way into the top 15 before the engine began sputtering in the closing circuits.
“The last three laps I could feel it cutting out at the end of the straightaway,” he said. “So I just ran it half throttle. I ran out of fuel on the backstretch after I took the checkered flag.”
Luckily the weekend ended well because Friday night finished in frustration.
Starks was in a transfer spot midway through his World of Outlaws’ heat race at Merced Speedway in Merced, Calif., before a four-car accident knocked his front end out. The damage forced Starks to the pits and into the B Main, which he competed in with spotty brakes.
Starks finished second to transfer to the feature, but was involved in a chain-reaction wreck in turn two on the fourth lap. In an effort to avoid another driver, Kraig Kinser slid up the track and his right rear tire clipped Starks’ left front, which resulted in his car flipping.
“It wasn’t exactly anyone’s fault,” said Starks, who finished 25th. “Just a racing deal.”
Starks returns to California on Saturday for the King of the West Sprint Car Series season opener at Antioch Speedway in Antioch, Calif.
QUICK RESULTS –
April 1 – Merced Speedway in Merced, Calif. – Qualifying: 19; Heat race: 7 (5); B Main: 2 (2); Feature: 25 (19).
April 2 – Calistoga Speedway in Calistoga, Calif. – Qualifying: 20; Heat race: 8 (7); B Main: 5 (5); Feature: 13 (23).
SEASON STATS –
11 races, 9 features, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 1 top 10, 4 top 15s, 7 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Antioch Speedway in Antioch, Calif., with the King of the West Sprint Car Series
FAVORITE NUMBER –
10: The number of cars Starks passed in the World of Outlaws’ feature at Calistoga Speedway in Calistoga, Calif., on Saturday en route to a career-best WoO finish of 13th.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Website: www.treystarksracing.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TreyStarks55
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TreyStarksRacing
APPAREL –
Starks has shirts, sweatshirts and beanies for sale. The colors are black and gray for the shirts and hooded sweatshirts. Shirts are $15, sweatshirts are $30 and black beanies are $15. All sizes range from small to XL. For ordering information, visit www.treystarksracing.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – SpeedMart
Established in 2004, SpeedMart has developed into a leading supplier of sprint car and racing products in the Northwest. For more information, visit www.speedmartinc.com.
“SpeedMart really benefits us because they are right next to our home,” Trey said. “Even though we are traveling a lot on the West Coast, I know SpeedMart will always have anything we need.”
Starks would like to thank his sponsors, including Starks Timber Processing, Blue Dot Fabrications, Northwest Powder Coating & Sandblasting and Masco Petroleum 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 www.insidelinepromotions.com.
- administrator on Apr 04, 2011
- Article Date: 4/4/2011