Starion Motorsports

**Starion Motorsports** is an American motor racing effort that currently competes in the Atlantic Championship. Based outside of the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex, the team was formed in a rush by B.K. Glover, and at one point attempted to race in every major racing series at the same time, despite not having the resources or leadership needed.

The team is best known for its time in the Indycar World Championship, as well as the GTPlanet Fandom Series, where it has won multiple races in both competitions.

## Background

The team's original function was to act as stability in Glover's early motorsport endeavors, an insurance policy to keep him from losing what little he did own should he run afoul of bankruptcy or IRS inquisition. The name is pulled from the Mitsubishi Starion, though it's pairing with the decorative logo has given Glover an unorthodox tie in, "A star, in one. Star-I-On...No I'm not drunk". The logo, like many things associated with the owner, is an idea he had that simply imbedded itself and grew from there, colors, materials, shadings, and even the star's surrounding parts, dubbed the 'Medallion' when fully assembled, have changed on a whim countless times. An alternative, called the 'Tin Star' is a metallic logo used as an identifying mark, and is only slightly more detailed than the original idea.

Early days were mostly spent on the tube-frame, classless runabouts Glover cut his teeth on, but also would reach out to cover dirt racers, drag racing, and even the odd sports car or roadster by 'adopting' the operation as long as it ran out of the team's facility. With some honest deals the team was able to establish it's first shop, a toolshed compared to competitors, but solid home base even if in a poor location. After some backlash and off-track drama, Glover mothballed the team and closed the shop, which was destroyed soon after and the property sold, and after salvaging what was usable built a bigger, more inclusive facility just off US I-20. This new base is seen as a refresh, and while offices for the Starion Driver Representative Agency and the Starion Design Studio are in the building, the shop is built in a manner that the Atlantics teams are the forefront effort.

During the 2022 H1N1 pandemic, the organization was forced to shut down by government mandate as it was not seen as an essential business, though the trucks and open space were leased out for temporary storage. SDS was fully closed while contracts with the DRA were waived due to travel restrictions. Glover, in strokes of paranoia and distrust, took up residence in the main shop and produced a number of tube-frame chassis with unknown purpose. Once restrictions were lifted, senior staff were slow to return simply due to Glover's antics. After people were able to restore proper operations, the chassis were finished with 4-cylinder engines and a generic sports styled body, attempting to get a controlled series off the ground, which was soundly rejected by local organizers and leagues. Some prior staff never returned, others left to join other companies shortly after, Glover did not hire more afterwards.

In March 2023, a cease and desist order was delivered, claiming the property rights were unjustly sold and seeking to reobtain the property and everything on it. After investing a few million, Glover presented an overwhelming packet of documentation making his and Starion's position clear, they were unaware that the property was disputed, and were assured in writing that everything was in line, and filed a counter-suit seeking reimbursements. Before the 2023 Indy 500, signage and equipment was seen being removed by a handful of remaining employees. The "plague cars" were sold for scrap, display cars were shipped to Texas Motor Speedway for storage and promotional usage, leaving only the specialty shops that cannot be removed. Court documents released state that while the team were not guilty of wrong doing, the property is still in limbo and was sold to them at a loss, leading the court to deny reparations and ordering the team to leave the property, under supervision, by the end of June 2023. Reportedly, remaining staff have been paid for the year and encouraged to find new employment, putting the future of the team in doubt yet again.

## Champ Car history

### 2016

Starion Motorsports emerged as a new team for the 2016 Straight Talk IndyCar Series season, following a raft of changes in the teams participating in the series. Glover, who had just departed Highlight Racing after six years, was one of its drivers as he helped lead a brief trend of team owners also racing in the series. For the 2016 season, Glover's #79 car would be the only car the team fielded, with the team working on expansion efforts throughout the year.

### 2017

Starion's expansion efforts would lead to the absorbing of Standard Motorsports, with Canadian rookie, Ray Taylor, joining the team in the #43. Ford, who were re-entering the sport after years away, would supply the team with engines. The team would later add the #86 of Adrian Ragus for a part time program.

### 2018

Starion would reach its maximum presence in the series in 2018, fielding three full time cars, for Glover, Taylor, and Ragus, as well as a fourth car for dirt track star, Jordan Fisher for the Indianapolis 500.

### 2019

Starion's last season as a Champ Car team would occur in the 2019 season, with the team losing Ford factory support at the end of the year, and sponsors leaving the series as a whole following the litigation, and subsequent administration of series organizer, Citadel Promotions.

## Atlantics history

The sale of Phantom Motors in 2021 set off waves in the open world racing scene, one was the subsequent re-sale of the Phantom Motors Atlantics program. An agreement between Velocity Autosport chief Vincent Rojas and Glover was negotiated before the season ended, and Starion was rebooted to focus it's effort on refining the program's operation to fit it's new base.

### 2022

Inheriting 4th in the 2020 team's standings, former Phantom prospect Katherine Hart was given a Starion contract to fill the obligations she'd agreed to with Phantom, and the team stated that she would be lead driver. Her new teammate is Andreas Lemont, a French F3 prospect making the jump to the US. While PMA equipment and rights were in the sale, many sponsors did not want to stay, a number not wanting to deal with Glover's personality, and in short order agreements were made and new sponsors were announced, with Southwest Airlines taking the primary slot.

## GTPFS History

Starion's efforts shifted away from open wheel in 2020. While the relationship was severely strained, Glover and Starion had signed a deal to represent Ford, which left only one real option in stock cars. Long nights to turn around the entire team were done in time, though plans would change before the team ran a single event. Unlike the open wheel efforts, Starion never ran more than one team.

## Drivers

* B.K. Glover (2015-2019), owner
* Michael White (2016)
* Gavin Grey (2020-2021)
* Katherine Hart (2022)
* Andreas Lemont (2022)