StarCom Racing

Stock car racing team

StarCom Racing

Owner(s)| William Woehlemann
Michael Kohler
Matthew Kohler
Derrike Cope
Base| Salisbury, North Carolina[1]
Series| Michelin Pilot Challenge, NASCAR Cup Series (Formerly)
Race drivers| 12\. Andy Lally, Nick Tucker
Manufacturer| Hyundai
Opened| 2017
Career
Debut| 2017 Hollywood Casino 400 (Kansas)
Latest race| 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race (Phoenix Raceway)
Races competed| 164
Drivers' Championships| 0
Race victories| 0
Pole positions| 0

StarCom Racing (SCR) is an American racing team that competes part time in the Michelin Pilot Challenge and formerly competed full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series. Based in Salisbury, North Carolina, the team fields the No. 12 Hyundai Elantra TCR in a partnership with Nitro Motorsports, with Andy Lally.[2][3][4] In NASCAR, the team fielded the No. 00 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE full-time for Quin Houff[1] in a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing. Veteran NASCAR driver Derrike Cope served as the team's manager.[5][6] The team folded in 2021 and its assets were bought by 23XI Racing later that year.

On February 1, 2024, it was announced that the team would reopen and run select races in the Michelin Pilot Challenge in collaboration with Nitro Motorsports.[7]

## NASCAR Cup Series

[edit]

On September 25, 2017 StarCom Fiber announced their intentions to field a car in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The team selected veteran driver Derrike Cope to drive the No. 00 StarCom Fiber Chevrolet, whom they had previously sponsored throughout the 2017 season at Premium Motorsports.[8] Almost a month later, ESPN reported SCR would be making its Cup Series debut at Kansas Speedway for the 2017 Hollywood Casino 400.[9]

On September 1, 2021, Catchfence.com reported that StarCom sold its charter.[10] On September 15, shop foreman and mechanical director Charlie Langenstein confirmed that StarCom Racing would shut down operations at the end of the 2021 season.[11] On November 16, it was revealed that StarCom's charter was sold to 23XI Racing.[10] Following the team's closure, Woehlemann and the Kohler brothers would join The Money Team Racing, owned by boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.[12]

### Car No. 00 history

[edit]

#### Part Time (2017)

[edit]

Landon Cassill in the No. 00 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2019.

On September 25, 2017, StarCom Fiber, who had sponsored Derrike Cope throughout the season at Premium Motorsports, announced their intentions to field a car in the MENCS, selecting driver Derrike Cope to drive No. 00 StarCom Fiber Chevrolet.[8] On October 17, 2017, it was reported StarCom Racing would make its MENCS debut at Kansas Speedway for the 2017 Hollywood Casino 400.[9]

Before their first planned attempt at Dover, the No. 00 withdrew from the race due to not having sufficient staff for the team to successfully operate. On October 22, The team would go on to successfully debut at Kansas, starting 40th and finishing in 40th after numerous problems plagued the team. On October 29, Cope would later announce the team would attempt two more NASCAR premier series races next month at Texas and Phoenix.[13] That same day, SCR announced the team had decided that they would no longer attempt to race in Texas, instead focusing all of their effort on Phoenix. Phoenix once again got off to a rough start for the team, as they had to cut the first practice short with engine issues. When the problem was not fixed by qualifying, Cope and the team decided to skip qualifying and take the last position on the grid. The race, however, went much better for the team. After starting last, the team quickly moved out of the last position. After a series of problems for other teams, the No. 00 car managed a 32nd-place run, completing the race.

#### Full Time (2018)

[edit]

On January 24, 2018, StarCom announced that they had secured a charter and will run the full schedule, with Cope planning to drive the majority of the races.[14] The charter was leased from Richard Childress Racing, which had closed down the No. 27 team.[15] However, Jeffrey Earnhardt was later announced as the driver for the 2018 Daytona 500.[16] Earnhardt piloted the car for the first five races of the season with sponsorship from VRX Simulators. He earned a best finish of 21st at Daytona. On March 18, 2018, Earnhardt and StarCom Racing had agreed to part ways.[17] Earnhardt was replaced by Landon Cassill, who brought two races of sponsorship from USFRA.org.[18] On April 10, 2018, the team announced that TW Cable, LLC and Superior Essex would sponsor Cassill at Bristol.[19] On April 17, 2018, it was announced that NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Joey Gase would drive the car at Talladega with sponsorship from Gase's Xfinity Series sponsor, Sparks Energy.[20] Cassill returned to the car at Dover with sponsorship from RNH Electric.[21] Road course ringer Tomy Drissi was hired to drive the #00 at Sonoma. At the fall Las Vegas race, Cassill finished 18th place, the best finish by the team so far, and the feat was achieved again at the 2018 1000Bulbs.com 500 with Joey Gase behind the wheel.

#### Landon Cassill (2019)

[edit]

After the 2018 season, StarCom Racing announced that Cassill had signed full-time with the team for the 2019 season. In addition, the team purchased the charter they were leasing from RCR.[1][22][15] He finished the season 33rd in points.

#### Quin Houff (2020-2021)

[edit]

On November 25, 2019, crew chief Joe Williams announced that he had left the No. 00 team. StarCom Racing announced his replacement for 2020 was George Church.[23] The next day, it was announced that Quin Houff would pilot the 00 full time in 2020 and 2021.

StarCom had a disappointing 2020 campaign, earning just one top 15 finish the entire year, at Talladega.[24] During the 2020 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas, Houff made an ill-timed maneuver towards pit road, causing damage to the cars of Christopher Bell and Matt DiBenedetto before colliding with the outside wall. He was heavily criticized by DiBenedetto and Brad Keselowski for his actions.[25][26] The team's average finish decreased from 29.3 in 2019,[27] (with Cassill at the helm), to 31.3 in 2020[28] with rookie Houff.

The team's run in 2021 fared worse, with just one top-20 finish at Talladega. The No. 00 finished the season 38th in points; three places lower than the previous season. The team closed its doors and sold its charter after NASCAR threatened to seize the charter. It would have been the first time that NASCAR exercised their charter seizure policy, where teams finishing in the bottom of the owner points standings for three seasons in a row could be required to sell their charter at NASCAR's discretion. The charter would then be sold to 23XI Racing for US$13.5 million.[29]

#### Car No. 00 results

[edit]

Year  | Driver  | No.  | Make  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20  | 21  | 22  | 23  | 24  | 25  | 26  | 27  | 28  | 29  | 30  | 31  | 32  | 33  | 34  | 35  | 36  | Owners | Pts

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2017 | Derrike Cope | 00  | Chevy | DAY | ATL | LVS | PHO | CAL | MAR | TEX | BRI | RCH | TAL | KAN | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH | SON | DAY | KEN | NHA | IND | POC | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | CHI | NHA | DOV
Wth | CLT | TAL | KAN
40 | MAR | TEX | PHO
32 | HOM | 43rd  | 6
2018 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | DAY
21 | ATL
34 | LVS
31 | PHO
35 | CAL
36 |  | 34th  | 259
Landon Cassill |  | MAR
38 | TEX
21 | BRI
20 | RCH
34 |  | DOV
31 | KAN
25 | CLT
28 | POC
31 | MCH
32 |  | CHI
36 |  | KEN
33 | NHA
37 | POC
34 | GLN
31 | MCH
29 | BRI
25 | DAR
30 | IND
31 | LVS
18 |  | CLT
29 | DOV
33 |  | KAN
29 |  | TEX
35 | PHO
26 | HOM

Joey Gase |  | TAL
27 |  | DAY
25 |  | RCH
35 |  | TAL
18 |  | MAR
35 |
Tomy Drissi |  | SON
32 |
2019 | Landon Cassill | DAY
24 | ATL
33 | LVS
32 | PHO
33 | CAL
29 | MAR
28 | TEX
30 | BRI
26 | RCH
35 | TAL
34 | DOV
31 | KAN
37 | CLT
37 | POC
31 | MCH
29 | SON
31 | CHI
31 | DAY
11 | KEN
32 | NHA
26 | POC
28 | GLN
29 | MCH
30 | BRI
25 | DAR
25 | IND
40 | LVS
29 | RCH
28 | CLT
28 | DOV
26 | TAL
14 | KAN
37 | MAR
26 | TEX
27 | PHO
33 | HOM
28 | 32nd  | 285
2020 | Quin Houff | DAY
39 | LVS
32 | CAL
35 | PHO
34 | DAR
36 | DAR
26 | CLT
35 | CLT
32 | BRI
27 | ATL
32 | MAR
34 | HOM
33 | TAL
27 | POC
40 | POC
31 | IND
23 | KEN
35 | TEX
34 | KAN
24 | NHA
32 | MCH
27 | MCH
32 | DAY
33 | DOV
33 | DOV
34 | DAY
23 | DAR
31 | RCH
32 | BRI
29 | LVS
34 | TAL
13 | CLT
28 | KAN
33 | TEX
33 | MAR
33 | PHO
39 | 35th  | 214
2021 | DAY
29 | DAY
40 | HOM
35 | LVS
33 | PHO
32 | ATL
33 | BRI
25 | MAR
24 | RCH
34 | TAL
37 | KAN
37 | DAR
30 | DOV
29 | COA
34 | CLT
32 | SON
36 | NSH
38 | POC
31 | POC
33 | ROA
34 | ATL
35 | NHA
35 | GLN
32 | IND
22 | MCH
30 | DAY
38 | DAR
30 | RCH
35 | BRI
34 | LVS
34 | TAL
19 | CLT
30 | TEX
31 | KAN
35 | MAR
34 | PHO
37 | 38th  | 176

### Car No. 99 history

[edit]

Kyle Weatherman in the No. 99 at Pocono Raceway in 2018.

Team manager Derrike Cope was originally intended to pilot the No. 00 for the majority of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule, however, after the hiring of Jeffrey Earnhardt to drive full-time, StarCom announced that they intended to field a second car, the No. 99, part-time for Cope and possibly other drivers. Cope announced that they were hoping to field the No. 99 beginning at Texas Motor Speedway, with Cope planning to drive unless another driver with sponsorship was found. However, the team didn't race at Texas, instead delaying the #99 car debut until the AAA 400 Drive for Autism at Dover International Speedway.[21] An early wreck relegated Cope to 37th in his first race in the 99. The 99 car returned at Pocono with Cope, finishing 34th. Garrett Smithley made his debut in the 99 at Michigan. The race did not last long, as Smithley stripped the gears in the transmission on lap 1.[30]Kyle Weatherman would take over the 99 for Chicagoland, finishing 33rd. Landon Cassill would pilot the 99 at Daytona while Joey Gase was in the 00. Smithley and Weatherman would run the next 3 races, with Smithley finishing 36th at Kentucky, while Weatherman would finish 31st at both New Hampshire and Pocono. Gray Gaulding would pilot the car for two races, finishing 33rd and 40th. Cope would return at Darlington to participate in the annual throwback weekend, with Bojangles sponsoring the car, paying homage to Cope's time with Cale Yarborough Motorsports. The 99 would finish second in Darlington's paint scheme contest while finishing 33rd in the race. Kyle Weatherman and Landon Cassill would split time between the 99 for the remainder of the season, with Weatherman's best finish coming at Las Vegas, a 26th, and Cassill's best finish coming at Talladega, a 22nd. After a 36th-place finish at Homestead with Weatherman, StarCom closed their No. 99 team for 2019 and they did not run a second car again.

#### Car No. 99 results

[edit]

Year  | Driver  | No.  | Make  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20  | 21  | 22  | 23  | 24  | 25  | 26  | 27  | 28  | 29  | 30  | 31  | 32  | 33  | 34  | 35  | 36  | Owners | Pts

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2018 | Derrike Cope | 99  | Chevy | DAY | ATL | LVS | PHO | CAL | MAR | TEX | BRI | RCH | TAL | DOV
37 | KAN | CLT | POC
34 |  | DAR
33 | IND |  | 39th  | 82
Garrett Smithley |  | MCH
39 | SON |  | KEN
36 |
Kyle Weatherman |  | CHI
33 |  | NHA
31 | POC
31 | GLN |  | LVS
26 |  | KAN
35 |  | TEX
34 | PHO | HOM

Landon Cassill |  | DAY
24 |  | RCH
36 | CLT | DOV | TAL
22 |  | MAR
32 |
Gray Gaulding |  | MCH
33 | BRI
40 |

## Sports Car Racing

[edit]

On January 18, 2024, Derrike Cope teased an announcement relating to the team on his personal Facebook page.

On February 1, StarCom Racing announced its part-time involvement in the Michelin Pilot Challenge in a partnership with Nitro Motorsports. They would field a Hyundai Elantra in the TCR class, starting with the round at Sebring in March. The team will also participate in the rounds at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Road America, Indianapolis, and Road Atlanta.[31] A driver lineup has yet to be announced.[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "StarCom Racing purchases charter and locks up Cassill for 2019". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. December 17, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
2. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
3. ^ Service, IMSA Wire (March 11, 2024). "StarCom Racing Set for Sebring Debut With Lally, Tucker – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
4. ^ a b Allaway, Phil (February 1, 2024). "StarCom Racing Relaunches in Pilot Challenge". Frontstretch. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
5. ^ Beard, Brock (June 23, 2018). "Cope says Starcom Racing has "come a long way in a short period of time"". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
6. ^ McFadin, Daniel (December 14, 2018). "Richard Childress Racing reveals Daytona 500 cars, sponsors and Xfinity details". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
7. ^ "StarCom Racing Relaunches in Pilot Challenge". Frontstretch. February 1, 2024.
8. ^ a b "StarCom Racing to compete In MENCS, withdraws from Dover". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. September 27, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
9. ^ a b "StarCom Racing to Debut at Kansas". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. October 17, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
10. ^ a b "StarCom Racing sells NASCAR Charter". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
11. ^ "StarCom Racing Crew Member Confirms Team Shutdown". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
12. ^ Pockrass, Bob (February 1, 2022). "Floyd Mayweather joining NASCAR with The Money Team Racing". Fox Sports. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
13. ^ "Cope Plans to Attempt Phoenix". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. October 30, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
14. ^ "Derrike Cope, StarCom Racing Acquire Charter for 2018 Season". Motorsports Tribune. January 24, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
15. ^ a b "NASCAR Charters". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
16. ^ "StarCom Racing signs Jeffrey Earnhardt for 2018 season". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. January 30, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
17. ^ "Jeffrey Earnhardt and StarCom Racing part ways". Motorsport Network. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
18. ^ "Landon Cassill to drive next two races for StarCom Racing". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. March 19, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
19. ^ "StarCom Racing partners with TW Cable, LLC, Superior Essex and Landon Cassill for the Food City 500". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. April 11, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
20. ^ "Joey Gase Joins StarCom Racing for Talladega". www.frontstretch.com. April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
21. ^ a b "StarCom Racing Set to Field Second Car at Dover with Drivers Cassill & Cope - StarCom Racing". StarCom Racing. May 1, 2018. Archived from the original on May 3, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
22. ^ "Landon Cassill to return to StarCom Racing in 2019". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. December 17, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
23. ^ Page, Scott (November 25, 2019). "Crew chief change at StarCom Racing". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
24. ^ Hardy, Sarah (October 9, 2020). "Quin Houff talks career best finish at Talladega, preparation for the Roval". Kickin' the Tires. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
25. ^ Albert, Zack (July 19, 2020). "Houff's gaffe alters complexion of Texas race, playoff hunt". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
26. ^ Long, Dustin (July 20, 2020). "NASCAR to speak to driver for 'very poor decision' at Texas". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
27. ^ Landon Cassill driver statistics at Racing-Reference
28. ^ Quin Houff driver statistics at Racing-Reference
29. ^ "StarCom Racing sells NASCAR Charter: UPDATES: to 23XI Racing". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
30. ^ Beard, Brock (May 6, 2018). "CUP: Corey LaJoie scores third engine-related last-place finish in four starts". LASTCAR. Blogger. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
31. ^ "StarCom Racing on X: "Here is our planned 2024 race schedule for the …".

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* StarCom Racing owner statistics on Racing Reference

* v
* t
* e

StarCom Racing

Years active|

2017–2021

Personnel|

* William Woehlemann
* Michael Kohler
* Matthew Kohler
* Derrike Cope

Former drivers|

* Landon Cassill
* Derrike Cope
* Tomy Drissi
* Jeffrey Earnhardt
* Joey Gase
* Gray Gaulding
* Quin Houff
* Garrett Smithley
* Kyle Weatherman

Partnerships and affiliations|

* Richard Childress Racing
* Rick Ware Racing

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