Inside Line Promotions
– LEBANON, Ore. (July 18) – So much for a slump.
After five top 10s in six days, capped by his best career performance, Trey Starks is riding high.
“We’re definitely turned around,” he said. “We’ve kind of pulled our stuff together and got everything back in order.
“I felt like we kept progressing and every night we got better. When we didn’t get a good draw, we moved forward. And when we did get a good draw, we maintained it.”
The 15-year-old from Puyallup, Wash., finished fourth overall in the ASCS Northwest Region Speedweek – four races at four tracks in as many days throughout Oregon last week.
He started the streak by finishing 10th in a local race at Southern Oregon Speedway in White City a week ago Saturday. Two days later, Starks started the Speedweek by placing sixth on the same track.
“That track was really wet all night, so passing was at a premium,” he said. “But we kept the car in one piece and got better as the night went on.”
That was the trend all week as Starks overcame a spin in his heat race on Tuesday at Coos Bay Raceway in Coos Bay. He finished second in the B Main to earn a transfer to the feature, where he earned the Hard Charger Award for driving from 17th to ninth.
Starks finished sixth on Wednesday at the Cottage Grove Speedway in Cottage Grove, setting up what he called the best sprint car race of his life on Thursday at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon.
“We had a lot of momentum heading into Willamette Speedway and I felt like we took advantage from the start,” he said.
Starks won his heat race to earn a trip into the redraw, which realigned the top eight drivers in points based on a random draw by a child in the stands. Starks’ pick was the No. 4, starting him on the outside of the second row.
He was quickly into second place by the end of the first circuit and several laps later, Starks passed Henry Van Dam for the lead.
“I probably should have won that race,” Starks said. “If I could do it over again, I would have moved up when I got to the lapped cars instead of running right in the middle. I got a little too comfortable. I should have stayed where I was when I passed Henry.”
Starks maintained the lead until Kyle Larson slid by him in turn three midway through the race. A couple of laps later, Van Dam passed Starks as the duo exited turn two. However, Starks pulled a slide job in turn three to regain second place, where he finished.
“I think that was my best race because I actually had to race for it,” said Starks, who finished second in an ASCS Northwest Region event earlier this season at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash. “This one I felt like I actually raced and earned my position.”
Speedweek was scheduled to conclude with two ASCS National Tour events on Friday and Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway. However, both races were rained out.
Starks also moved up to fourth in the ASCS Northwest Region point’s battle at the midpoint in the season.
“Our goal was to make the main event every night and we got a top 10 every night,” he said.
Starks will compete with the ASCS National Tour this Friday and Saturday at the Cottage Grove Speedway. Both events will be taped for a delayed television broadcast by the VERSUS network.
For live updates of Starks and all the races, visit www.insidelinepromotions.com.
QUICK RESULTS –
July 9 – Southern Oregon Speedway in White City, Ore. – Heat race: 2 (4); Dash: 4 (3); Feature: 10 (4).
July 11 – Southern Oregon Speedway in White City, Ore. – Heat race: 2 (5); Feature: 6 (4).
July 12 – Coos Bay Speedway in Coos Bay, Ore. – Heat race: 6 (2); B Main: 2 (3); Feature: 9 (17).
July 13 – Cottage Grove Speedway in Cottage Grove, Ore. – Heat race: 2 (1); Feature: 6 (9).
July 14 – Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Ore. – Heat race: 1 (1); Feature: 2 (4).
SEASON STATS –
31 races, 29 features, 0 wins, 4 top fives, 14 top 10s, 18 top 15s, 27 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Cottage Grove Speedway in Cottage Grove, Ore., with the ASCS National Tour
FAVORITE NUMBER –
499: Points accumulated during the ASCS Northwest Region Speedweek last week, which was fourth best.
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,” Starks 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.