Due to recent injuries to Truck Series driver, David Starr, Spears Motorsports has opted to put another driver in the #75 Chevy until Starr makes a full recovery. Starr suffered a broken collarbone as well as broken bones in his left hand and foot following an incident during a recent test at The Milwaukee Mile. Spears Motorsports has fielded a truck in all but two Truck Series races since the inception of the series in 1995, recording their most successful season in 2002 with Starr behind the wheel. Starr is expected to make a full recovery in four to six weeks. Hank Parker Jr. of the Busch Series has agreed to take the take the wheel for the team as long as necessary. Parker has been a Busch Series regular since 1999, accumulating two wins, nine top-fives, 29 top-10’s and one pole.. He has been unable to secure a ride for the full season this year but has three starts in 2003; two with the #27 TrimSpa car and one with the #8 Chance 2 Motorsports Chevy. In those three starts, Parker was able to turn in two top-10 performances. This, however, will not be the first time Parker will drive for Spears Manufactuing.. In 1998, Parker ran a Winston West race for Spears Motorsports and had a top-10 finish for the team that day at Las Vegas. He will also find a familiar face in crew chief, Dave McCarty as the two worked together as driver and crew chief for Parker’s Busch team from 1998 through 2000. “We’re fortunate to be able to get someone with Hank’s talent,” said crew chief, Dave McCarty. “We’ve worked together before and I know what he likes, which makes him the logical driver choice for us.. Our focus is still on getting David healthy and we’re anxious for his return. In the meantime, Hank should do an excellent job for us.. With the talent he has, I’m glad we have the opportunity to get him back in a competitive ride.” Parker is looking forward to the challenge of taking on the tough competition in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. “It is unfortunate to have to fill in under these circumstances,” said Parker. “I certainly wish David a speedy recovery. I am excited to work with Dave McCarty again, I know him well and we work well together. I drove for Spears once before and I look forward to getting behind the wheel of a truck for them. I have never raced a truck before but I am really excited about making my first start in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. I’ve watched a lot of their races and they’ve got some tough competitors.. I just want to get out there and run with them and hopefully turn in some good finishes for the Spears Motorsports team.” Starr, meanwhile, is doing everything he can to speed along his recovery back in Texas.
“I’m resting at home here in Texas and I’m trying to do what the doctors are telling me plus I’m taking vitamins, I’m taking calcium pills and I’m drinking a lot of milk so my bones will heal up quicker,” said Starr.. “I just want to recover as quickly as possible because can’t wait to go back to racing.. We have a great team, we were starting to jump back up in the points and it was looking like we had gotten our bad luck out of the way.. I’m beat up a little bit but I’ve been beat up in the past.. I just want to come back as soon as possible so I can finish out the season with my team and put some wins on the board for Spears Motorsports. I think putting Hank Parker Jr. in the truck is a great decision.. I’ve got a great raceteam and I don’t think they need to stop racing.. Hank has worked with Dave McCarty before and he’ll fit right in with ‘Chief’.. Hopefully they’ll keep rolling and put that Spears Chevrolet in victory lane and then when I get well, I’ll come back and try to do the same thing.”(Spears Motorsports PR)(6-13-2003)
