David Starr (racing driver)

David Leon Starr (born October 11, 1967) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the Nos. 53 and 35 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen and competes part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Garage 66. He has also previously competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where he is a four-time race winner, as well as what are now the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West.

Starr began by being on a neighbor's pit crew at the age of fourteen. At the age of sixteen, he started driving in street stock racing, winning the championship at Big H Motor Speedway in his first year racing. Over the next seven years, Starr won a total of twenty late model races. In 1993, he began driving at the Team Texas driving school and eventually becoming a race instructor. During this time, he worked for Donnie Allison as a crew member on his Busch Series team. He joined the Texas International Driving Association in 1996 and became the first rookie to win a race.

In 1998, Starr made his Truck Series debut driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Silverado for Reher-Morrison Racing in five races. His best finish was eighteenth at his home track at Texas Motor Speedway. The following season, he competed in the Truck Series full-time. Driving primarily for Tagsby Racing, he also competed for Team 23 Racing, Conely Racing, Morgan-Dollar Motorsports, and McGlynn Racing, and was able to finish 22nd in the standings. Sagby closed its doors at the end of the season, leaving Starr without a full-time ride. He drove most of his races for Conely part-time, as well as for Ware Racing Enterprises and TKO Motorsports, his best finish twelfth at Texas, where he also qualified on the outside pole. That season, he made his Busch Series debut at Talladega for Day Enterprise Racing, finishing 42nd. After running one race for TKO at Daytona International Speedway, he ran four races for Team Menard, finishing no lower than seventh.

Starr earned his second full-time ride in 2002, when he joined the No. 75 Spears Motorsports team. He won his first race at Las Vegas and was named the Series' Most Popular Driver after a fifth-place finish. He was 10th in the standings in 2003 when he suffered injuries and was forced to miss four races. He was still able to post thirteen top-tens that season. Starr also attempted to make his Winston Cup Series debut at Texas Motor Speedway, but failed to qualify.

Starr won two races in 2004 and moved up to sixth in points. After a winless 2005, Starr left Spears and was rumored to drive the new Hall of Fame Racing NEXTEL Cup ride, but instead signed with the No. 11 team fielded by Red Horse Racing. He won his most recent race at Martinsville Speedway and had a career-best fourth-place points finish. It was reported that he was replaced at Red Horse by Aaron Fike, but team owner Jeff Hammond has stated that Starr was still under contract with the team and would continue to drive for them if they find sponsorship. He joined Circle Bar Racing for 2007, and drove the No. 10 MaxxForce Diesel Ford with equipment purchased from ppc Racing to a tenth place points finish with five top-tens.

Starr rejoined Red Horse in 2008 and had eight top-tens. In 2009, Starr joined HT Motorsports in the No. 24 Zachry Toyota Camry Starr attempted to make his Sprint Cup debut for BlackJack Racing at Fontana in 2009, but did not qualify, and had fourteen top-ten finishes, his highest total since 2004.

For 2010, Starr moved to Randy Moss Motorsports as HT Motorsports closed its doors. Starr had seven top-ten's and was in the top-ten in points entering the EnjoyIllinois.com 225 at Chicagoland when the team suspended operations due to financial difficulties. Starr picked up a last-minute ride with SS-Green Light Racing in their No. 21 Chevrolet, which was intended to start and park at Chicagoland. However, Starr ran the full race and scored a top-ten finish. Starr eventually took the No. 81 as well as the Zachry sponsorship with him to SS-Green Light and drove for the team the remainder of the season, scoring a ninth place points finish. Starr returned to the team for the 2011 season, finishing thirteenth in points. He also competed in a limited number of races in the Sprint Cup Series for Leavine Family Racing in the No. 95. In his four starts out of eight attempts, his best finish of 27th was at Bristol Motor Speedway.

For 2012, Starr moved to newly formed Arrington Racing, bringing his sponsor and truck number, the No. 81, with him for the full season. However he was forced to miss races after the midpoint of the season due to a lack of sponsorship.