Louisville, KY (August 22, 2006) – Chuck Barnes Jr. did everything he could to try and get the win in Saturday night’s Rite-Way Industries 100 at Salem Speedway for the KY Clutch & Performance Late Models, but ended up in second behind winner Kenny Tweedy. Tweedy, a regular with the CRA Super Series late models, made a visit to Salem Speedway for Saturday night’s show and took full advantage of his pole starting position to lead all 100 laps of the Rite-Way Industries 100.

Barnes Jr. started in fourth after Fast Qualifier Pete Mayden rolled a five for the inverted start putting Tweedy on the pole and Martin Belcher on the outside pole. Keith Gardner was the third fastest qualifier, but elected to start at the tail trying to collect the $2000 bonus in the Rite-Way Challenge. Barnes Jr. was in third place after taking the green flag. Barnes Jr. worked past Belcher to move into second on lap 25. From there Barnes Jr. tried passing Tweedy several times, even drawing along side him on the white flag lap, but could not complete the pass and had to settle for second.

"Tweedy has a lot of laps on the high banked half miles, so I knew he would be tough to pass," remarked Barnes Jr. "I kept waiting for him to bobble, but he didn’t make any mistakes. I tried everything but wrecking him, and I wasn’t going to do that. All the yellows didn’t help, especially the last one that only left a couple of laps to race. It was a great race for the fans, I wanted the win, but I’ll take second and the points lead!"

Point’s leader Keith Gardner has his night end after contact with rookie Will Kimmel. Gardner lost a chance at the bonus and the points lead with his eventual ninth place finish. The event was brutal on many of the 19 participants with several wrecks leaving pit road looking like a junkyard.

"It was rough night for a lot of the guys Saturday night, I’m glad we were able to get out front early and avoid the carnage. Salem is a tough track, the wrecks their usually tear up a lot of equipment. Pete Mayden turned a great lap in qualifying to end my streak of Fast Qualifier Awards, but in the long run we got what we needed tonight."

Barnes Jr. takes over the KY Clutch & Performance Late Models points lead with only two events left on the 2006 schedule. The next KY Clutch & Performance Late Models will be a 50-lap event on Saturday, September 9^th.

Barnes Jr.’s father went to victory lane in the Super Stock Division on Saturday night, increasing his current points lead.

"Our goal is for my dad and I to both win season championships at Salem Speedway this season, it really means a lot to my mom. My dad holds a lot of records at Salem Speedway, he’s a great racer, it really makes me proud when people compare me to him."

Barnes Jr.’s #55 Port City Monte Carlo had sponsor support for Saturday’s Rite-Way Industries 100 from Crown Spray Power Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Anytime Towing, Speed Media, ARP Stock Car Bodies, AP Racing, Hawk Performance and Blake Carburetion. More information is available on Chuck Barnes Jr. at www.chuckbarnesjr.com