PARTS Trucks: Barrett Survives Full Moon to Win Concord
7 September 1998
CONCORD, N.C. - There was a beautiful full moon over Concord Motorsports Park Saturday, Sept. 5. However, the phenomenon of chaos that accompanies a full moon was evident in the AAR Roofing 100.Kevin Barrett of Cleveland, Ga. clinched the Big Daddy's Professional Association of Race Trucks (PARTS) Pro Truck Series 1998 championship by winning at Concord. But, that was not what made the night so strange.
A total of 44 trucks showed up to make the 30-truck starting field for the Big Daddy's PARTS Pro Truck Series race on the half-mile facility. When qualifying was over, it was newcomer J.C. Beattie of Baltimore, Md. surprising the favorites.
Beattie put the ATI Performance Products Chevrolet on the pole in only his fourth race behind the wheel of anything other than go karts.
Joining him on the front row was the 1997 Hoosier Rookie of the Year Tina Brown of Gainesville, Ga. It was also the first time she has started on the front row for a PARTS Pro Series national event.
Proving it was no fluke, Beattie held the lead for the first 12 laps of the race, before Brown put the Checkmate Electronic Payments Chevrolet up front. Clay Young, who won the Re/Max Pole the last time the series visited Concord, and Butch Gafnea followed Brown around Beattie.
Brown held the lead for 17 laps before Gafnea took his turn up front. Not giving up easily, Beattie made another run to the front and got around Gafnea to take the lead at the half-way mark in the 100-lap event with Young on his rear bumper.
Brown's best effort at a win this season came to an end on lap 37 when she was caught up in an accident. The crash sent her to the pits for several laps for repairs.
Beattie and Young were running first and second with Young attached to Beattie's bumper and threatening at every turn. While working lapped traffic, they were also involved in a crash, which dropped both from competition.
The craziness continued with Gafnea benefiting from misfortune. Behind Gafnea, the battle for second was waging between Randy Gilbert, Barrett and David Elliott. Both Barrett and Elliott found their way around Gafnea on lap 77.
Another wreck on lap 84 claimed Elliott, who was running second at the time. Gafnea and Gilbert dueled for several laps before Coon Ayers joined the fray. In the final laps, Gilbert was able to work into second and pressure Barrett.
A valiant attempt to pass Barrett going into turn two came up a little short as Gilbert tried to get under the leader. Barrett closed the door with Gilbert running on the apron to avoid another crash.
At the finish, it was Barrett followed by Gilbert, Ayers, Jimmy Traywick and Jay Dumham. Gafnea managed a sixth-place finish. The Finish Line Racing School Half-Way Leader was Beatie and Rick Boga took the Mama Mary's Gourmet Pizza Hard Charger Award.
Boga, a local driver making his first appearance in the Big Daddy's PARTS Pro Truck Series started 30th in the 30-truck field. At the end of 100 laps, Boga finished ninth, on the same lap as the leaders.
The next event on the PARTS Pro Truck Series is Oct. 24 at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Fla.
