FORT WORTH, TX -- The California Speedway is the setting for the world's closed-course speed record and one of the fastest tracks ever designed. And while many may be intimidated by the daunting 2.0-mile facility, David Starr and his No. 35 Big Daddy's BBQ Sauces Chevrolet are ready for the challenge of the NASCAR Winston West 200.

"This is by far the fastest trck that the Winston West Series will race on this year, and probably for many years to come," Starr said.

It was at this same facility in 1997 that driver Mauricio Gugelmin turned a lap of 240.942 mph and established a new closed-course record. Though Gugelmin was running in a CART Champ Car, this is a lightening-quick track for all types of cars.

"I love coming to California because the track is real smooth and there is lots of room to race," Starr explained. "There are always two grooves here and with the Winston Cup and Busch Series also in town there will be a lot of rubber laid down this weekend. This might open up a third groove as well."

Starr is heading to the Fontana, Calif., track with a new car and engine in his trailer. The Monte Carlo was a Daytona backup car for Joe Nemechek.

"I am a little nervous about the car," Starr admitted. "It was built for Daytona and Talladega and you don't really need much downforce at those tracks because of their banking. When you go into those steep banks the centrifugal force pushes the car down in the turns.

"The banking is not as steep in Fontana so you need a car with good downforce here," Starr explained. "We just bought the car from Team Sabco and immediately sent it to Charlotte for new fenders and hopefully that will be enough. We will just have to work with what we have got."

The 200-mile race is set for the afternoon of Saturday, May 1. This is the fourth event in the Winston West season.

A resident of Ft. Worth, Texas, Starr also races the No. 73 Sonntag Redi-Mix Concrete Chevrolet in the Craftsman Truck Series. For more information visit his web site at www.davidstarr.com.

RacingWest Questions

RacingWest: What do you like about the California Speedway?
David Starr: This is a beautiful facility and I like everything about it. It is very fast and very wide. There are two and often three groves at California so there is plenty of room for everyone to race.

RW: What do you dislike about the California Speedway?
DS: I can't say as I dislike anything. Some people say that it gets too hot there but I like the hot weather.

RW: What time do you think it will take to make the show at California Speedway?
DS: That is a hard question to answer until we get some time on the track and see some of the practice times. If I had to venture a guess I would have to say that you had better run a lap in the 42-second range to be sure of making the field. Could even take a better time than that.

RW: Since the Winston West is running the same weekend as the Busch and Cup series, there may be some drivers from those series cross over and run with the Winston West. What is your position on these drivers from other series racing with the Winston West?
DS: I think that it is wonderful. Freddy Fryar once told me that 'you have to race with the best to be the best.' This could be a good opportunity to beat some guys and to see if you can measure up to their standard.

RW: Fontana is the fastest track on the WW circuit. Do you feel that your team will have the horsepower to run up front?
DS: Yes, I think so. We just bought a new engine that is better than what we ran in Vegas. If everything runs as it should I think we will have enough horsepower to be in the lead pack.

RW: It will probably be quite warm at Fontana what do you do as a driver to prepare yourself for the heat and fatigue of running under those kind of conditions?
DS: There really isn't much you can do in two or three weeks leading up to the race. This is part of a year-long physical conditioning program and making sure that you are in good condition physically and mentally. The only thing I will do different is to drink a lot of Gatorade during the day and to put a thermos of it in the car with lots of ice. Being from Texas helps too since it tends to get awfully hot in the Lone Star state.

RW: Does your team have a good downforce car ready for Fontana?
DS: We are bringing a new car that we just bought from Team Sabco. This was Joe Nemecheck's 1998 backup Daytona car so I am a little leery of the downforce it will have. We sent it to Charlotte to have some new fenders put on but I'm not sure if that will be enough. We will just have to do the best we can with what we have.

RW: Has your team been practicing pitstops? If so how is their progress coming?
DS: Yes, the team has been practicing and they are getting better but there is always room for improvement (laughs).

Source: Clark Racing & RacingWest
Posted: 4/28/99