The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

PARTS Trucks: Barrett Wins in St. Augustine

11 May 1998

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- For a while, it looked like Kevin Barrett might take his third straight win in PARTS Pro Truck Series competition, but the bid was spoiled by a determined Todd Bontrager. Barrett had to settle for runner-up this time.

The third race of the 1998 PARTS Pro Truck Series was staged May 9 at St. Augustine Speedway in St. Augustine, Fla. After winning the first two races of the season, Barrett grabbed the Re/Max Pole Award for the NAPA 100k at the half-mile track.

Fans crowded into the grandstands might have thought the race was going to be another follow-the-leader event. For the first 17 laps of the 60-lap feature, Barrett led the 31-truck field in green flag racing.

A caution on lap 18, setup the some of the closest racing ever seen in the series. When the green came out following the caution, Barrett and Bontrager thrilled the fans as they ran side-by-side, lap-after-lap.

Each time they reached the start/finish line, it would be a photo finish to see who lead at the stripe. While Barrett engaged his Barnacles Restaurant/DISH Network Chevrolet against Bontrager s Precision Communications Chevrolet up front, the was more competition right behind them.

Tim Dobbs, Coon Ayers, Butch Gafnea, and Blake Bainbridge all put on enough pressure to keep Barrett and Bontrager honest. Gafnea and Dobbs both ran in second for short periods, but never got to the front.

At the finish, it was Ayers taking the third-place finish, followed by rookie driver Robert Smith and Dobbs. Raymond Lovelady made a strong charge to the front finishing in sixth, after starting 25th.

Paul Booher took seventh spot and was followed by defending PARTS Pro Series Champion Ricky Wilson. Wilson took the Mama Marys Gourmet Pizza Crust Hard Charger award after coming from 29th starting position. Rounding out the top 10 finishers were David Elliott and rookie Frankie Erwin.

The fast-growing PARTS Pro Truck Series will make its next stop at Mobile International Speedway in Mobile, Ala. on May 23. Speedvision Network will broadcast the St. Augustine event June 14 at 1:00 p.m. and 1:00 am. It will be broadcast again on June 15 at 2:00 p.m.