Photo Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR
TriStar Motorsports announced today that David Starr has been released from the team’s No. 44 Zachry Toyota. JJ Yeley will drive the No. 44 at Talladega Superspeedway and the foreseeable future.
Starr joined the team in 2014 as a part-time driver before being promoted to a full-time role as driver in 2015. He and sponsor Zachry signed a three-year deal to drive full-time with the team starting in 2015. Since joining TriStar, the four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winner has scored two top-10 finishes, and a best finish of sixth at Daytona International Speedway last February.
Zachry has been a partner with Starr since 2008, but according to a post on Starr’s facebook page, that partnership has ended. Zachry will continue to support TriStar Motorsports and Yeley.
Yeley drove the No. 44 at Richmond International Raceway to a 12th-place finish when the team said on Friday before practice that Starr was ill and unable to make it to the track. TriStar Motorsports owner Mark Smith said in a statement that “Starr will return to the No. 44 in Talladega.”
Team owner Mark Smith cited an “ongoing effort to increase the competitive level” as a reason for the immediate release of Starr.
“We have made significant changes in an effort to improve our overall program,” Smith said. “With our commitment to our sponsor, we felt that an immediate change was necessary. We have every confidence in the team we have assembled and we will continue to pursue our competitive goals.We wish David all the best in his career and we will announce further plans as they are confirmed.”
Starr had a best finish of 17th this season at Bristol Motor Speedway and was 19th in points.
