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| B.J. McLeod And Brad Barkis In The Fast Lane | He will turn 19 in November but already is a six year veteran in the high-powered Super Late Models with more visits to the Winner's Circle than most racers will get in their entire careers.
Of course we are talking about the understated young stock car driver from Wauchula, Florida, B.J.McLeod, who has three wins this year in DeSoto Speedway's All American Challenge Series.
On this past Saturday night (August 10) B.J. was confident about his chances for another victory in the series, and set fast time in qualifying at the 3/8 mile oval on State Road 64.
"I knew I had a fast car", said McLeod after the race was in the books. "But I couldn't get by Brad (Barkis)".
The AACS rolls a die and inverts the field according to the number that comes up. So even though he had qualified fastest, after the die was tossed and a 5 came up, he had to start 9th. This is supposed to make it more fun for the fans, but it sure didn't help B.J. on this night.
B.J was narrowly able to avoid the wall and other cars when some of the other racers were involved in major crashes. After several cautions and 50 laps of the 125 lap race, he found himself in fifth place behind another young racer by the name of Brad Barkis.
B.J. and Brad go way back. They have competed against each other since early childhood in KARTS, both winning National titles. For the next 75 laps all eyes were on these two short track warriors as they battled for the fifth spot, the best racing on the track. B.J. had the faster car but Barkis, himself a veteran at a early age, held off charge after charge.
The good natured competition eventually led to the officials sending radio messages to McLeod by way of his spotter to back off. After the race the two veterans chatted in the pits and Barkis told McLeod he didn't even know B.J. was rubbing him, "I thought I was just getting loose", Barkis remarked.
Barkis and McLeod can be found at all the big Late Model events around Florida, and Brad also races at Charlotte, which is where he started and claimed the track championship three years ago.
For more on the incredible career of B.J. McLeod check out his web site at www.bjmcleod.com
You can catch the next 650 horsepower All American Challenge Series show August 31st at DeSoto Speedway on State Road 64, nine miles east of I-75
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