This year's race week at Memphis Motorsports Park for the O'Reilly 200 would take on a different tone than in years past for the driver of the International MaxxForce Diesel Ford F-150. In years past David Starr would fly in to race and fly back home to Texas with little time in between.

This year, Starr would start the week with an appearance at Kentucky Speedway to preview the Built Ford Tough 225 presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers with the media from Cincinnati and Louisville. Instead of returning to Texas, Starr headed to Memphis early. The extra time in front of the race allowed Starr to spend some time exploring Memphis away from the racetrack. Starr covered the high points, Beale Street and Downtown Memphis while reserving a full afternoon for special tour of the home of Elvis Presley, Graceland. Starr is long time devotee of the King of Rock and Roll and on Thursday Starr and teammate Rick Crawford were given a special after hours tour of Elvis's Graceland. From the "Jungle Room" to the "Meditation Gardens" Starr took it all in and it all made his desire for the Elvis trophy from Memphis Motorsports Park even deeper.

Crew chief Dennis Connor knew the importance of continuing to build on the International MaxxForce Diesel teams solid performances of the last few weeks. For the O'Reilly 200 Connor called on a chassis the International MaxxForce Diesel team had run before and one that had produced some of the team's best finishes, CB-23 better known as "Old Blue". Old Blue had proved he could hunt with the best of them on the short tracks and Connor was counting on Old Blue to bring home the bacon.

Off the trailer Old Blue just wasn't acting like he should and the International MaxxForce Diesel Ford F-150 was just outside the top 15 on the speed charts, not what they were expecting. From practice to qualifying the team changed just about everything on their International MaxxForce Diesel Ford F-150 but the paint job. The effort netted the team a 14th place starting position and a truck Starr felt like he could drive to the front.

With the drop of the green flag of the O'Reilly 200 Starr was on the move picking up spots using the outside lane. From 14th to 12th in 2 laps, Old blue was in the hunt looking for the top 10. By lap 72 Old Blue had gone tight in the center of the corners and wouldn't turn like Starr needed it to. With caution in the air on lap 72 Starr brought his International MaxxForce Diesel Ford F-150 to the attention of Connor and the over the wall crew. In 13th, 4 fresh Goodyears with air pressure adjustments and a full load Sunoco fuel. The over the wall gang performed a 16.03 second stop, picking up 3 spots on pit road. Back under green Starr held his own with a truck that was getting tighter as the track surface got cooler.

With a caution on lap 118 Starr was able to bring his International MaxxForce Diesel Ford F-150 to the attention of Connor and crew again. Another awesome stop at 15.70 seconds and Starr left pit road in the 10th position. Back under green Starr was on the move cracking the top 10.

As the laps wore on the International MaxxForce Diesel Ford F-150 started to get tight again and started to loose spots. By the time the final caution of the night flew Starr was back to 14th. Using a veteran move on the final restart with less than 10 to go Starr picked up a spot and finished 13th.

Dennis Connor: "The over the wall guys had a good night, they picked up spots on every stop. We started tight tonight and just could never work the tight out of it. We'll keep working to get it figured out."

David Starr: "I'm a little disappointed in our International MaxxForce Diesel Ford F-150 today. We were too tight in the center and kept sliding. We made some adjustments, but we just couldn't fix it. I take a lot of the responsibility for our truck tonight. Dennis and the guys worked hard to make it better but I don't think I gave them enough good input to get where we needed to be. I'm disappointed, but we're getting better as a team and I'm excited about that. I thought we would have a better finish. We'll keep working and keep making this International MaxxForce Diesel team better and better."

The International MaxxForce Diesel Team will be in action when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series holds round 13 of the 2007 season in the Built Ford Tough 225 presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday July 14th.