Getting Up To Speed With…Trey Starks
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Aaron Reed)
It seems like Trey Starks has been racing for a long time. Well he has been behind the wheel of race car for a total of eleven years. But the hard thing to fathom is his age, seventeen. The junior at Puyallup High School has started 2013 in the right direction and looks to be a contender for the American Sprint Car Series-Northwest Region title. The third generation pilot is son to four-time WMRA Midget champion John Starks and his grandfather Arnie was a champion in that same series in 1977. Trey is a former Rookie of the Year with the ASCS-Northwest Region, Skagit Speedway, and Grays Harbor Raceway. He also was the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Rookie of the Year in 2010 and is the youngest driver ever to start in a World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series feature.
Driver: Trey Starks
Hometown: Puyallup, Washington
Occupation: Student (Puyallup High School)
Age: 17
Years Racing: 11
Classification: 360 Sprints
Car Number: 55
Chassis: Schnee
Sponsors: Starks Timber Processing, MASCO Petroleum, Blue Dot Fabrication, BR Motorsports, King Racing Products, Speedmart Inc., Shaver Specialties
BD: Trey what are your plans for 2013?
TS: I’ll be running a lot more local stuff. We plan on running for the ASCS-Northwest championship. We may go run the Midwest a little bit and if my dad gets time off at work go and hit the Kings Royal at Eldora again.
BD: Last year you travelled a lot and didn’t really run local. How much did you learn?
TS: I learned a lot. The whole point of going out there was to adapt to different race tracks, conditions, and competition. Our goal was to take what we learned on the road and apply it back home. Well we never have run locally to see if it’s paid off this year will be that chance. So far the year has started good with four straight top fives and a win.
BD: How would you rate the competition of the ASCS-Northwest Region?
TS: I’ve always said that you can take these guys out on the road and they will win. Time and again the Northwest guys are always challenging for the win when the National Tour is in town. I don’t think people realize how good the drivers around here are.
BD: I see a bit of change in 2013. You’ve brought Shawn Miller back to doing your PR work. That’s got to be great?
TS: Yeah it is. We worked with him before he went to the World of Outlaws last year. When he came back he asked if we were interested in signing back up and we were. He’s a great guy and does a good job.
BD: What are some of your racing plans in the future?
TS: It’s a frequently asked question and a hard one to answer. It really depends on what comes up but I’m willing to go anywhere. I’m happy where I am at with the family deal and it’s been really fun. Right now I don’t have a fixed goal so I’m open to anything.
The American Sprint Car Series-Northwest Region opens up the season at Grays Harbor Raceway this Saturday May 25th and Sunday the 26th for the Spring Challenge. The ASCS-Northwest Region is the western most arm of the American Sprint Car Series sanctioning body located in the Pacific Northwest the series hosts 360 Sprint Car racing on dirt tracks throughout Oregon and Washington from May to September. For more information on the latest news and stories about the series log onto their website at www.ascsnorthwest.com or www.ascsracing.com.