It’s been four long weeks for David Starr. Since his injury back in mid-June, Starr has been watching the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races from the top of the pit box, not his ideal vantage point. Instead of making laps on the track, he was pacing laps in a 2′ x 2′ square area on pit road and watching every move Hank Parker, Jr. made in the Spears Motorsports Chevrolet. Although it was Parker’s first experience in a race truck, he was able to turn in two top-10 finishes and keep the team from losing ground the owner’s points battle. Starr knows he can’t get those four races back but he believes the Spears Motorsports team can still have a successful season. “I’m going to be like a kid in a candy store when I get back in that racetruck. It’s been like waiting for Christmas morning to open presents. I know I only missed four races but those were probably the four toughest weeks I’ve had in my racing career. I can’t explain how difficult it was sitting on pit road watching someone else race the Spears truck. I appreciate what Hank Parker, Jr. was able to do for our team while I was out. He’s a great driver and he worked extremely well with our team. He got some good, solid finishes and kept us in the owner’s point contention. However, I’m ready to get back in the seat and see if we can’t pick up where we left off. I took a few laps around Texas Motor Speedway in one of my uncle’s school cars and I felt great. I got fitted for a new Hans device, my doctor gave me the okay and I’m ready to go. I know we won’t be a contender in the points battle but we can still win a few races and move the Spears Motorsports team up in the owner’s points. I know Clancy, our hauler driver, likes to park near the front and I want to make sure we get closer every week.”. Starr On Racing At Gateway International Raceway: “I’m excited that my first race back will be at St. Louis because we had a good run there last year but I made a couple of mistakes in the pits. I thought we could have won the race. It’s a fun racetrack to race at and it’s very challenging. It’ll be my first race back and I hope it’ll be a top-five for the Spears Motorsports team. I just can’t wait to get back in the truck!”(Spears Motorsports PR)(7-15-2003)
