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Being a true champion requires far more than just being able to win races. It takes a very special individual - a person who not only has an unbelievable desire to win, but one who also possesses the knowledge and savvy to interface with sponsors and media - a person who cares about the fans and his fellow drivers and truly enjoys the challenges of his chosen sport. David Starr is this type of individual.
Hailing from the Lone Star state, Starr's love of racing was evident from a very young age. His Dad Jimmy was the crew chief for Tony Bettenhausen Jr., and Ronnie Chumley and Starr used to go hang out at the race track watching his father work. He loved every minute of it and it didn't take long for him to know that racing was the only career for him.
Starting to make his dream a reality, Starr ran his first race at a local Houston dirt track when he was just 14 years old. Beginning with Street Stock, it didn't take this determined youngster long to prove his prowess behind the wheel. Earning the track champion title at Big H Speedway in 1983, he continued with his late model career for the next seven years, taking home 20 victories along the way.
Continuing to create an outstanding name for himself, Starr felt that he should next add pavement to his growing list of achievements. Well aware that experience is the key to success, Starr started working for his Uncle Mike at Team Texas High Performance Driving School. He immediately got to work learning all the ins-and-outs of the fast-paced world of stock car racing. Over the next two years, he continued teaching and learning, made a couple of starts in the ARCA Series, was a test driver and crew member for a NASCAR Busch Series team headed by Donnie Allison and every so often got back behind the wheel of his Late Model.
"My Uncle Mike is really like my older brother and we are extremely close," smiles Starr. I won a NASCAR West Series race in one of his cars. He's a former dirt track racer and has been an incredible help to me throughout my career. I have an office at his school and whenever I can, I help him out teaching and working on his cars."
"Even though I was working at the school, I kept racing anything I could get my hands on," says Starr. "I knew that constantly getting behind the wheel would improve my skill and that's what it takes to be a champion. Practice, practice, practice is the only way to become the best."
"I am one of the luckiest racers out there," says Starr, who tied the knot with his long time sweetheart Kim the beginning of this year. "She is right there with me and is 100% behind my racing. The same is true with my entire family. They have always totally supported my dream of racing. Growing up, I worked with my Dad in the family automotive business and not only did he give me the freedom to race, but he gave me time to work on my car, meet with potential sponsors and do all the other activities essential to racing. I would work, make enough money and take off to go racing. When I ran out of cash, I was back at the shop. Truth be known, my parents made a number of sacrifices to allow me to follow my dream and I will never be able to thank them enough."
In 1996, Starr competed full-time in the Texas International Drivers Association (TIDA) and earned the distinct honor of being the first rookie to win a TIDA race. Showing it was by no means a fluke, Starr went on to also win the Texas Race of Champions at Texas World Speedway and then followed up the next season with three more victories.
In 1998, Starr started to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Running selected races under the Reher-Morrison banner, this outstanding racer showed that he was definitely a force to be reckoned with. And, it wasn't long before he landed himself a full time ride. Today, running for Red Horse Racing, he is one of the top-ranked drivers in the Series.
"I owe an awful lot to the late Buddy Morrison," explains Starr. "He was the one who gave me my start in the NASCAR arena," explains Starr. "He made a dream come true for me and took a chance when nobody else would. If it hadn't been for him, I might not be where I am today."
Extremely energetic, Starr is constantly on the go. "I'm not real good at sitting still," he says with a smile. "And there are so many things I enjoy. I love to water ski; I play tennis and work out. I ride both four-wheelers and dirt bikes, love movies, baseball and fine dining. Living life to its fullest is pretty much what I do. You don't want to miss out on anything."
While there is no doubt that Starr's passion is racing, his other loves are his wife Kim and his family. The son of Ophelia and Jimmy, David has an older brother Jimmy, a young brother Johnny and a baby sister Melissa.
"We are really a close knit family," he says. "And Kim and I spend as much time with them as we can. People often ask what I do for fun," he says smiling. "The answer is simple...I hang out with my family and Kim, and of course our two dogs Harley and Daisy. Next to racing, that's what I like best. I come from a really big family and some of the best times are when we all get together for holiday celebrations."
Also important to Starr is helping children. "Children are the future of our country," he explains. "And, they are innocent and beautiful." Through his involvement with Team Texas High Performance Driving School, he has helped raised over $100,000 for Speedway Children's Charity. "If we all do a small bit," he continues, "then those less fortunate can have a better life."
The eternal optimist and extremely positive, Starr gives 100% to pursue his dream and it is obvious that he will continue winning for a long time to come.
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About
Ken Smith
