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April 7, 1999 BARRETT READY FOR LAKELAND THIS TIME
CLEVELAND, Ga. - In the last race of the 1998 PARTS Pro Truck Series season, Kevin Barrett went to USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Fla. with a new team. He will return to the 3/4-mile facility on April 10 with the same team and hopes of a better finish. Barrett had already clinched the national championship for the series when he joined forces with truck owner Dennis Starling for the USA race. Barret qualified the truck third fastest and finished eighth in the 33-truck field.
"We weren't prepared when we went last year, Barrett said. "I had just started driving for Dennis and didn't have enough time to get the truck like I wanted it and all that. We hope we are ready for it this year. We are going ready. I don't know what we are going to do, but we are going ready." The USA International Speedway is the largest track the PARTS Pro Truck Series has on its schedule. The trucks normally run on short tracks of 1/4-mile and 3/8-mile, with a few tracks that measure 1/2-mile.
Like most of the drivers in the series, last year was the first time he had raced on a 3/4-mile track. It was different for the short track star, but he enjoyed the experience.
"It was sure enough different as long as it was, Barrett said. I am used to running short tracks, and it was a whole lot different speed wise. You have to handle to a certain extent, but you have to have plenty of motor.
"What we learned last year is that this track requires more engine and we have to keep the handling under us a little better. We ran good for about 50-60 laps last year and the handling went away, but we hope that we will get that solved this year."
Barrett will have a chance to put what he has learned to the test on Saturday, April 10 in the California Quickshine 100. The PARTS Pro Truck Series Race will be run in conjunction with the NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Event. Race Action is scheduled to get underway at 8:00 p.m. -Norm Leno see also Short Track |
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