David Starr to attempt Cup races

Veteran NASCAR driver David Starr will pilot the new Leavine Fenton Racing Fords in the Sprint Cup Series.

Starr joins fellow Texans Bob Leavine and Lance Fenton, who will operate LFR out of Concord, N.C. Leavine, owner of WRL General Contractors, sponsored Starr’s effort last season in the Truck and Nationwide series.

Fenton, 33, competed in five Truck races last season. He will pilot the No. 95 truck. Fenton’s best finish was 19th in the Rick Ware Chevrolet at Darlington Raceway.

Wally Rogers, 37, will be the crew chief for the operation. Rogers most recently worked with Richard Petty Motorsports and was crew chief for Elliott Sadler until last July.

Starr, 43, will attempt to make his NASCAR Cup debut at Texas Motor Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 95 Ford. He is scheduled to run both Cup races at Texas and Charlotte, Chicagoland and the inaugural Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Motor Speedway. LFR will compete in Roush Fenway Racing cars with Roush Yates engines.

“Bob went from being a sponsor to being a car owner – and that’s a cool thing,” Starr said. “I’ve attempted to make Cup races before, but I’ve never really had the opportunity that they’re giving me. We’re only doing six races because we want to start off slow. I like their approach. It gives us the opportunity to be prepared and test. I really think it’s a great way to build an operation.

“We’ll have great equipment and with Wally’s experience it help us get up to speed. They understand the commitment it’s going to take, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Starr, who has been a regular on the Truck series for the past 13 years, will continue racing the No. 81 Toyota Tundra for SS-Green Light Racing. The Houston native has four career wins and has finished in the top 10 in the points standings seven of the past nine seasons, including finishing ninth in 2010.