Wheatland, Missouri (March 8, 2016) - Few drivers at Lucas Oil Speedway have a more varied racing background than Republic's Bobby Barnett. From a start more than two decades ago on area pavement tracks to a stint in a dirt Modified to his current "home" in the Carson's Corner NAPA Street Stock division, Barnett is looking to step up his game in 2016.
From a start more than two decades ago on area pavement tracks to a stint in a dirt Modified to his current "home" in the Carson's Corner NAPA Street Stock division, Barnett is looking to step up his game in 2016.
Taking a you're-never-too-old-to-learn approach, the 54-year-old Barnett attended a dirt-track racing school
in Kansas City over the winter.
Barnett called the experience interesting and enlightening and, along with son and crew chief Jay Barnett, is eager to see how it translates to the track. First indication will come at a preseason practice at Lucas Oil Speedway on April 2.I.
"I think that really helped him learn a little bit more about the suspension," Jay Barnett said. "I think that's going to help us have a good year." <.] "
Barnett figures to be one to watch in the growing Street Stock division, with a new rules package requiring two-barrel carburetors among other tweaks in a class at Lucas formerly known as Factory Stocks.
"We're still working on the front-end stuff, changing over some stuff and putting weight jacks in it and switching the shock package," Barnett said.
A poor start doomed Barnett's title chances a year ago. Jay Barnett recalled an ignition switch coming loose along with a broken shock before a midseason motor failure burying the team in the points.
Barnett was still able to rally with a series of top-five finishes over the second half of the season. He finished a solid fourth in the standings, behind track champion Kenny Carrolll, runner-up Chip Shadow and third-place Johnny Coats.
Even with a better start, Barnett said, "I don't think we'd have caught 94 (Carroll) but the other two, we'd have been right there with them. We had those three bad races that really hurt us."
Barnett is unsure of the new rules package, concerned that the associated costs. He said rules changes and costs are reasons he took a hiatus from racing a few years ago before getting back in for the 2014 season.
Jay Barnett is taking a more optimistic approach, figuring that additional cars will make the Street Stock division stronger than ever.
"I think it's going to be a really competitive year with a lot of new cars," Jay Barnett said. "I also think it's going to be a good year for us. We're going to travel around a little more from just racing at Lucas. We're looking forward to it."
Barnett's No. 27 car is sponsored by Conklin Excavating, Bair's Sports Bar and Grill, Villars Automotive, Mac's Performance Powertrain and Midwest Sheet Metal.
Lucas Oil Speedway's season fires up April 8-9 with the Lucas Oil MLRA Spring Nationals with the first Budweiser Weekly Championship Series race set for April 16.
Please visit www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for the most up to date information about "America's New Motorsports Destination," Lucas Oil Speedway.
Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With it's entrance located just outside the pit gate this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks.
Click www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for more information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the Track Hotline at (417) 282-5984.
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