PARTS: Barret Continues to Dominate Pro Truck Competition
15 July 1998
BRASELTON, Ga. -- If titles were given to races, the Maalox 100 at Lanier National Speedway on July 11 would have to be "Eat My Dust" with Kevin Barrett listed as the author.The Cleveland, Ga. driver started on the outside of the front row, but that was the only time he was not leading. Once the green flag dropped, Barrett put his Barnacle's Restaurants/Sugar Mill Creek RV Chevrolet up front to stay.
Barrett worked the lapped traffic with precision and even when cautions regrouped the field, he was able to out-power the pack. With Barrett dominating the race, the battle for rest of the top-five positions took the spotlight.
Re/Max Pole sitter Mike Davidson of Lula, Ga. was up to the challenge, as he was able to hold on to finish in the runner-up spot. In the early stages, Clay Young of Roswell, Ga. provided the pressure for Davidson.
Tim Dobbs of Lithonia, Ga. and Tina Brown of Gainesville, Ga. also joined in the battle. The first 30 laps were run caution free, and by lap 18, Dobbs was able to get past Young to challenge for second.
Local favorite and 1997 PARTS Hoosier Rookie of the Year Brown made a determined effort payoff toward the end of the race. After starting seventh in the 26-truck field, she was able to overtake Dobbs, four laps before the checkered flag to finish third.
Dobbs held on to finish fourth with James Glover of Pinellas Park, Fla. taking the fifth spot.
In Division 2 competition, Phil Peppers of Jefferson, Ga. took the win with Donny Moorelock of St. Petersburg, Fla., Cale Allen Gunter of Monroe, Ga. and Ron Mashburn of Gainesville, Ga. filling in the top four spots and earning starting spots in the feature.
Gunter made the best of his night. After starting 24th for the feature, he piloted his Cale Gunter Motorsports/Cox Drywall Dodge to a 13th place finish to take the Mama Mary's Gourmet Pizza Crust Hard Charger Award. Barrett claimed the Finish Line Racing School Half-Way Leader honors.
The next event on the PARTS Pro Truck Series schedule is the Mama Mary's Pizza Crust 100 on August 7 at Anderson Speedway in Anderson, S.C.
