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May 2, 2003: Racing and winning championships are two different things for Shawn Parker, the three-time kingpin of the renamed AllStar Truck Series. He is not, he insists, interested in extending the streak.

The series, formally called the American Race Trucks (ARTS), opens its 2003 campaign Saturday night, May 5, at Waterford Speedbowl.

“There are other priorities this year,” explains Parker who returns with a two-car team under the direction of crew chief Bob Pierce. “Mark Lowrey, a rookie, will be in the other truck and we really want to bring him along.”

Parker will “consciously” not win the title. Lowrey, despite limited experience, has been impressive in practice sessions at the Speedbowl.

Parker is also seeking a second degree from Boston University. “I’ve won three championships,” he explains, “and I don’t want to be juggling my life in search of points. I just want to go out and win some races and have some fun.”

And, he believes, “we are the team to beat week-to-week.”

A Speedbowl win would be special. Back in 1999, he had a terrible crash at Waterford that put him out of action for two weeks. Although the championship run started the next year, Parker has collected only one Speedbowl checkered, that in 1999.

“It is easy to be fast at Waterford but it is hard to win there,” he explains. “Everybody is fast there. It is very competitive and I would really like to get another one.”
Parker is “pleased” the AllStar Trucks will be part of the Speedbowl’s rescheduled (May 10-11) Modified Nationals. The series will share the Saturday agenda with the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour.

“We’ve probably raced there more than any where else,” he says. “It is a good place for us to show ourselves.”

Thompson Speedway has become Parker’s best track. He has won two of the last four races there. He needed a win at last year’s World Series to edge Chris Hammond by just four points for the title. He has eight wins over the last three seasons and an incredible 33 top fives.

He’ll leave the point chasing to others. The AllStar Series will not be without championship contenders including veterans Scott Riggleman, Chris Correll, Dave Elliott and Scott Gregory.

Now in his ninth season, Parker drove Limited Supermodifieds and Sportsman cars (at Seekonk) before taking up with the trucks in 1998. Pierce, who has TransAm and Craftsman Truck experience, joined the team at that time.