While it isn't quite a Hendrick Motorsports-sized operation, seeing Star Motorsports shut down is a serious hit. But in the scheme of things in the upper Midwest and in the NASCAR Midwest Series, it has that same feel as if Hendrick went “kaput” in the Cup world.
Star Motor Sports owner John Beale recently announced that his team, who has fielded cars the last several years for Brian Hoppe in both the NASCAR Midwest Series and various other Super Late Model events around the country, would get out of the racing business and sell off all their equipment, leaving Hoppe without a ride.

“Brian Hoppe worked hard for us on and off the track,” said Beale in a team press release. Beale hadn't yet called Speed51.com back by the time this story was published. “Our crew chief, Joe Wood, and all of the crew who worked on the team contributed endlessly and I am proud of their efforts. We have been together a long time and have shared many great memories.”

Some of those great memories include tons of wins with the NASCAR Midwest Series and the 1999 series championship. In fact, from 1998 until 2004, Hoppe has never finished outside the top-four in the Midwest Series (the former RE/Max Challenge Series) standings.

So the announcement that the team was breaking up was a shock to Hoppe.

“It was a shock to me. I wasn't quite ready for that,” said Hoppe. “But hey, I got to do what I wanted to do for a long time and so did the other guys that were here. We had a lot of fun and won a lot of races. We were pretty competitive all the time. From that stand point, I have no regrets.”

Hoppe said Beale knows the time is just right to get out.

“Star Motor Sports is going to get out of the racing industry at this point. It was kind of a decisions that it was time to be done. He (team owner John Beale) decided he was done, so we have everything for sale. The last day here will be January 15.”

Brian Hoppe won once in the Midwest Series this year and won the Southeast opener. (51 Photo)
Hoppe, with his 21 career Midwest Series wins, hopes to land somewhere. He knows what he&#039d like to do, but that is all what would happen in a perfect world.

“I'm here until the end (January 15th),” added Hoppe. “I'm going to be here until everything gets sold.

“On a personal side, I'm in the process of looking for something to do. If I can do something on the driving side of it would be great. If I can't, then I will want to be in the industry. So I'm working on that right now.

“In a perfect world, I would like to continue racing. If I got to pick, I&#039d love to keep doing Super Late Models. I&#039d love to run the Snowball Derby. I&#039d love to get back to Nashville and do some bigger shows and continue doing what I&#039m doing. Those rides though, are few and far between.<br><br>“So I guess we&#039ll just see what happens.”<br><br>The team’s primary sponsor for the last five years was Gildan Activewear. “<br><br>Gildan Activewear was very supportive and I appreciate everything they have done over the years. All of our associate sponsors have also been very supportive, and I want to thank them as well,” added Beale. <br><br> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><hr size="1" noshade></div> <div align="right" class="bodytxt" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><a href="print.asp?artnum=21232" class="standardlnkbold" target="_blank">Printer Friendly Version</a> | <a href="email_friend.asp?artnum=21232" class="standardlnkbold">Email to Friend</a> | <a href="http://forums.racingone.com" class="standardlnkbold">Discuss</a></div> <!-- Forums ---> <br><Br> <font size=1 color=#999999><b>Get up-to-the-minute news on your favorite NASCAR driver sent directly to your cell phone! <a href="/sms_front.asp">Get RacingOne&#039s Text Messaging Service!</a></b><br> <br>Jeremy Troiano is a columnist for RacingOne.com and editor of <a href="http://www.51speed.com">51speed.com</a></font> <br> <img src="images/pixel_clear.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=2 border=0><br></font> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <!-- Content ends here --> </div></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="589" height="10"></td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="5" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="5" height="100"></td> <td width="5"><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="5" height="100" name="layeraligner" id="layeraligner"></td> </tr> </table> <table width="770" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="165"><img src="/images/spacer.gif" width="165" height="7"></td> <td><img src="/images/footer_navtop.gif" width="600" height="7"></td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="97%">&nbsp;</td> <td width="1%"><img src="/images/footer_navleft.gif" width="10" height="20"></td> <td width="1%" align="center" valign="middle" nowrap background="/images/footer_navbg.gif"><div class="navfooter">&nbsp;<a href="/" class="homelnk">HOME</a> / <a href="series_front.asp?series=1" class="nascarlnk">NASCAR</a> / <a href="series_front.asp?series=4" class="f1lnk">F1</a> / <a href="series_front.asp?series=2" class="cartlnk">CART</a> / <a href="series_front.asp?series=3" class="irllnk">IRL</a> / <a href="series_front.asp?series=5" class="nhralnk">NHRA</a> / <a href="series_front.asp?series=6" class="usacwoolnk">WoO</a> / <a href="series_front.asp?series=8" class="arcaasalnk">ARCA/ASA</a> / <a href="http://fanshop.racingone.com" class="fanshoplnk">FANSHOP</a>&nbsp;</div></td> <td width="1%" nowrap><img src="/images/footer_navright.gif" width="10" height="20"><img src="/images/spacer.gif" width="5" height="20"></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=770 bgcolor=#000000 border=0> <tbody> <tr> <td align=center><div class="captiontxt"><a class=bluelnk href="/r1comments.asp">Questions or Comments?</a> | <a class=bluelnk href="http://corporate.racingone.com/marketing/media_kit/">Advertise</a> | <a class=bluelnk href="http://corporate.racingone.com">About Us</a> | <a class=bluelnk href="/profile.asp">Racing Newsletter Profile</a><br> <a class=bluelnk href="/legal.asp">Legal stuff and site credits</a> | <a class=bluelnk href="/privacy.asp">Privacy Policy</a><br> <img height=1 src="/images/spacer.gif" width=1 vspace=2 border=0><br> ©2002 RacingOne.com</div></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div id="skyscraper" style="position:absolute; left:780px; top:5px; width:120px; z-index:1; height: 600;"><!------ OAS AD 'Top' begin ------><SCRIPT LANGUAGE=JavaScript> <!-- OAS_AD('Position1'); //--> </SCRIPT><!------ OAS AD 'Top' end ------></div> <!------ OAS AD 'Top' begin ------><SCRIPT LANGUAGE=JavaScript> <!-- OAS_AD('Position4'); //--> </SCRIPT><!------ OAS AD 'Top' end ------> </body> </html>