NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES: STARR SHOOTS TO FRONT SPOT AGAIN DRIVER EARNS 2ND TRUCKS POLE IN AS MANY WEEKS.

Byline: Louis Brewster Staff Writer

FONTANA - There is no hotter driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series than David Starr, who will start on the pole for today's American Racing Wheels 200 at California Speedway.

The 35-year-old from Houston toured the 2-mile speedway at 175.850 mph on Friday to claim his second consecutive pole. Driving the Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet, Starr converted that starting spot into his first truck victory two weeks ago at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

``I'm just blessed to be part of the series,'' said Starr, in his first full-time ride. ``Getting the pole and win at Las Vegas, and following it up with a win, was unbelievable; getting my second pole is hard to describe.''

Coy Gibbs and rookie Bill Lester were the only other drivers to break the 40-second marks. Gibbs, the youngest son of Winston Cup team owner Joe Gibbs, was second fastest at 175.824, and Lester was third at 175.627.

Mike Bliss, the points leader heading into the final three races of the season, will start the 2 p.m. race fourth on the grid with a speed of 175.571.

The busiest of the 36 drivers in today's 100-lap race well could be Ted Musgrave. The defending race champion, third in a tight points race, was one of four moved to the back of the pack for changing the engine in his Mopar Dodge.

Dennis Setzer, sixth in the scramble behind Bliss, will forfeit the 14th starting spot for changing the engine in his Chevy before his qualifying run.

A total of 169 points separate Bliss, winner of the inaugural Fontana truck race in 1997, and Starr, fourth in the series. Rick Crawford, second in the battle, will start in the fifth row next to rookie Brendan Gaughan.

``This is not about where you start, but where you finish,'' said Lester, the former open-wheel driver selected by Dodge for its diversity program over Tim Woods of Chino Hills. It was a sentiment echoed by Starr.

``Qualifying is overrated at times,'' Starr said. ``The main thing is getting a solid starting position. It doesn't matter where you start, but how you finish, that's the most important thing. It's good for the morale of the team and your self-confidence.

``Lots of people put emphasis on that one good lap, but sometimes you can overemphasize that one lap and, when it comes to race time, you're lost.

``You can qualify 20th and still win the race.''

Gibbs, whose best finish in two races at Fontana is 23rd, said the drafting on the D-shaped oval could produce a winner from any starting spot.

``You can start dead last and get some help,'' said Gibbs, a former football player at Stanford. ``It's not like (half-mile) Martinsville (Va.), where you can go one lap down before you even start.''

Musgrave took the checkered flag last year by taking his time, despite starting 12th.

``I was trying to be patient,'' said Musgrave, winner of two races this season. ``That's the great thing about Fontana, it's a big racetrack and you can take your time. You don't have to pounce on something right off the bat. I hung in there and kind of plotted my way to the top.

``Handling, fuel mileage and drafting are all important when it comes to be successful at California.''

There will plenty of traffic in front of Musgrave and Seltzer. Eight of the top 10 drivers are in the first seven rows along with Andy Houston, a two-time pole winner at Fontana and second in the 2000 race. Houston, now racing the Billy Balew Ford, is outside the sixth row.

Ryan Hemphill, who qualified fourth, also will start from the rear after crashing in turn 2 near the end of the final practice session. Hemphill was transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center with minor head and neck injuries. If he is able to race, the Dodge driver for Bobby Hamilton Racing will start the 19th CTS race of the season in a backup truck.

Hemphill was released after a CT scan was negative.

RACING WEEKEND

Today

7 a.m.: Gates open; 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.: CART practice; 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Champ car qualifying; 2 p.m.: NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series American Racing Wheels 200; 5:30 p.m.: Berlin/Fixx concert and fireworks.

Sunday

7 a.m.: Gates open; 12:30 p.m.: CART The 500 Presented by Toyota.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

David Starr had reason to smile Friday after earning the pole position for today's American Racing Wheels 200 in Fontana.

Will Lester/Staff Photographer

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RACING WEEKEND (see text)