Chuck Barnes Jr. Gets First Win Of The
2006 Season
Heads South To Birmingham Next
(April 25, 2006) – 2004 CRA Super Series
Champion Chuck Barnes Jr. has had several good runs so far in 2006
including second place finishes in Florida in the Pete Orr Memorial,
in the Salem Speedway season opener on April 9th, and in
the PASS South Series Easter Bunny 150 on April 15th, but
all that changed Sunday when Barnes got his first win of the 2006
season in the Federated Auto Parts 50 at
Salem
Speedway in Salem, Indiana. Barnes was racing with the tracks KY
Clutch & Performance Late Models in a preliminary race for the
Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 event for the ARCA RE/MAX Series.
Barnes was the Fast Qualifier for the second
straight time this season at Salem Speedway. Barnes them rolled a five
for the inverted start. Barnes dropped back to sixth at the drop of
the green flag, but than began an assault to the front that would see
him in the lead before halfway. On the way to the front Barnes had to
race past Chris Harmon, Will Kimmel, Joe Williamson and Nick Johnson.
He was running second and catching leader Keith Gardner when a caution
came out, during the caution period, Gardner had to pit for a flat
tire handing the lead to Barnes who would never be seriously
challenged in getting the victory in front of a huge crowd.
“We had a fast car all day, so I knew I could get
back to the front even with the invert,” remarked Barnes Jr. “I would
have liked to have passed Gardner on the track, but he had some bad
luck. I’m confident our car was fast enough to have passed him anyway.
It feels great to get that first win of the season after having some
great runs!”
Finishing in second behind Barnes was Brett
Hudson, who had followed Barnes through the field to get his second
place finish. Nick Johnson came in third with Martin Belcher fourth
and Keith Gardner fifth. With his victory Barnes is the current point
leader in the KY Clutch & Performance Late Models at Salem Speedway.
Barnes will now head south to compete in this
Saturday’s Davey Allison 100 at Birmingham International Raceway with
the All American Super Late Models, formally known as the Southern
All-Star Super Late Models. It’s a big racing weekend in Alabama with
the NASCAR Busch and NEXTEL Cup Series right down the road in
Talladega.
“We are doing some traveling trying to race
against the best drivers and in situations were somebody might see me
like at Hickory Motor Speedway a couple of weeks ago. I’m trying to do
what I can right now to further my racing career, we really don’t have
a set plan were we will race next, I’m just looking for the best
opportunities for some good exposure right now. I’m looking forward to
racing in Birmingham, like Hickory there has been a lot of famous
drivers who have competed there including Bobby, Donnie and Davey
Allison, Neil Bonnett and Red Farmer. With the NASCAR guys down the
road, you never know who might show up to watch!”
Barnes’s #55 Port City Monte Carlo will have
sponsorship help for the Davey Allison 100 from Anytime Towing, Speed
Media, ARP Stock Car Bodies and Blake Carburetors. Chuck Barnes Jr.
Racing is still seeking major and minor marketing partners for the
2006 race season. Interested parties should contact Chuck Barnes Jr.
Racing at 502-298-5544. More information is available on Chuck Barnes
Jr. at
www.chuckbarnesjr.com.
