10/26/2017
Inside Line Promotions
Starks Enjoys Trophy Cup Weekend While Driving for Wheatley Motorsports
(Photo by Lisa Dynes Photography)
Inside Line Promotions – TULARE, Calif. (Oct. 26, 2017) – Trey Starks is pleased with his Trophy Cup outing last weekend during the 24th edition of the famed event at Thunderbowl Raceway.
Starks made his first-ever appearance driving for Shannon Wheatley and the Wheatley Motorsports team on Thursday during the opening night of the tripleheader. He qualified 20th quickest in his group before placing fifth in a heat race on the tricky track.
“We qualified in a spot where it put us on the front row of the heat,” he said. “On the initial start we got the lead, but a car stopped so we had a restart. On the restart we didn’t get as good of a jump and we ended up in second by the time we got to the line. We ran there for about five laps and hit a hole. We bounced and fell back to fifth so that really hurt us in points.”
Starks ended the night by finishing where he started – 13th – in a B Main.
His best night of the weekend came the following evening, when Starks timed in 24th quickest in his group. He won a heat race from the pole position to lock into the A Main, which he started on the inside of the last row. Starks gained several positions, but his race was cut short by a part failure in the front end. He was credited with an 18th-place finish.
“It went a lot better than the first night even though we ended with the DNF,” he said. “I think that put us around 30th in points going into the final night. Being in the first heat, the track was fast and narrow so it was tough to pass. I would have liked to get a couple more spots to gain points, but at least we didn’t lose any.”
Starks finished where he started – third – in a heat race to open Saturday’s program. That lined him up ninth in the B Main with the top four transferring to the main event.
“Everything clicked with us and we got rolling pretty good,” he said. “We got up to sixth and a car spun out right in front of us. We had it missed and were rolling down the banking of the track and I got hit in the left side from a car behind us. That debeaded the left rear and sent us to the work area. We went back out, but had some bent steering components. I tried to limp it home because you never know if you could catch a break, but the race went green to checkered from there on out.”
Starks capped the event with a 17th-place finish in the consolation race.
“It was really cool to get back to Tulare and back to the Trophy Cup, which is one of my favorite races,” he said. “It didn’t go as well as we wanted, but we improved every time we hit the track and had fun. I was happy with how everything worked out. I want to thank Shannon and the Wheatley Family for the opportunity.”
Starks will be off this weekend before he and the Gobrecht Motorsports team competes Nov. 2-4 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C., for the Textron Off Road World Finals with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series.
QUICK RESULTS –
Oct. 19 – Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. – Qualifying: 20; Heat race: 5 (2); B Main: 13 (13).
Oct. 20 – Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. – Qualifying: 24; Heat race: 1 (1); Feature: 18 (23).
Oct. 21 – Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. – Heat race: 3 (3); B Main: 17 (9).
SEASON STATS –
66 races, 2 wins, 14 top fives, 21 top 10s, 38 top 15s, 50 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Nov. 2-4 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C., for the Textron Off Road World Finals with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.TreyStarksRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Starks55Trey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TreyStarksRacing?fref=ts
APPAREL –
Starks has t-shirts and hoodies for sale at http://www.TreyStarksRacing.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Beer Hill Gang
The Beer Hill Gang, which is made up of diehard sprint car fans in Central Pennsylvania, has participated in the “Adopt-A-Highway Program,” organizes trash clean ups and sponsors various race teams, Hard Charger Awards and laps at the Tuscarora 50. The group is also a strong supporter of the Jeff Gordon’s Kick-It Foundation that helps aid children’s cancer research. For more information, visit http://www.BeerHillGang.net.
“The Beer Hill Gang is a big supporter of the Gobrecht Motorsports team,” Starks said. “The way they’ve welcomed me into the state of Pennsylvania has been much appreciated.”
Gobrecht Motorsports would also like to thank Champion Brands, Starks Timber Processing, Golf Cart Services, ServiceMaster Clean, J&J Auto Racing, Textron Off Road, Fibreworks Composites, FK Rod Ends, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Gettysburg Rental Center, Gardy’s Enterprises, Kleffel’s, Moose Blocks, Baker Door Company, Moose Lodge 720, Pancho’s Racing Products, Pro Shocks, Auto Meter, KSE Racing Products, Fel-Pro, Taylor Ignition Wires, Miller Welders, K&N Filters, Mettec, Bell Helmets, AL Driveline, DMI, Champion Spark Plugs, ISC Racers Tape, Schroth Racing, HMS Motorsports, King Racing Products, Kinsler Fuel Injection, All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads, Ultra Lite Brakes & Components and Security Race Products for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
Article Credit: Inside Line Promotions
Submitted By: Shawn Miller