Trucks: Barrett Named PARTS Truck Champion
15 December 1998
ATLANTA, GA. - Kevin Barrett took home top honors at the PARTS (Professional Association of Racing Trucks at their Awards Banquet Sunday Night, Dec. 13 in Atlanta.Barrett turned-in a terrific year during 1998, winning five of the 10 national events. He finished second in two other races, finished in the top 5 eight times and scored nine top-10 finishes.
The Cleveland, Ga. driver is a former NASCAR Winston Racing Series champion who adapted from Late Models to truck racing with little effort. Barrett Won the series driving for Greg Martin in the Barnacle's Restaurant #19 Chevrolet. He Switched teams prior to the final race of the season and will campaign during the 1999 season in the #51 Starling Motorspors Tel-Star Comgear Chevrolet.
Butch Gafnea of McCalla, Ala. finished second place in the final PARTS Pro Truck Series point standings and also claimed the Hoosier Tire Rookie of the Year Award.
Gafnea recorded two wins during the season, including the final race of the season at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Fla. He had three top-five finishes and seven top-10 finishes in his GMT Mortorsports Chevrolet in 1998.
Third place in the final standings went to Danny "Coon" Ayers of Mt. Airy, Ga., who drove the Lee Street Auto Parts Chevrolet to six top-five finishes and seven finishes in the top 10.
Veteran driver Clay Young of Roswell, Ga. finished fourth with one win, three top-five finishes and four finishes in the top 10. Young campaigned the Performance Radiator Chevrolet in 1998.
Finishing in fifth place in the final point standings was Randy Gilbert of Dallas, Ga. After starting the year as an owner/driver, Gilbert joined the Salter Shook Racing teams when his truck was destroyed by fire at mid-season. He scored two top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes in the team's Chevrolet.
Rounding out the top-10 in the PARTS final point standings were Tim Dobbs, David Elliott, Jimmy Traywick, Tina Brown and Keith Martin.
In Division II points, it was John Murr of Atlantic Beach, Fla. taking the title. Murr drove the Murr's Auto Body Chevrolet to two top-five and four top-10 finishes in Division II competition.
PARTS Division II top five in final point standings included Wayne Sutherland, Mickey Kempgens, Scott McPherson and Steve Hill.
Other awards presented at the banquet included the Bill Heard Chevrolet Pit Crew Award presented to the #99 pit crew for Jeff Burton. Derek Hagen of Cadillac, Mich. received the Haulmark Longest Haul Award.
Kempgens of Tampa, Fla. was the recipient of the X-1R Sportsman of the Year Award and Team 7 Racing, with Clay Young as the driver, won the Circle Track Magazine Best Engineered Award.
Special recognition was given to Bill Hennecy of Thunder Sports Production for producing the television broadcast of series events for Speedvision Network and the Fox Sports Network. Ken Rooke was also recognized for his efforts in announcing the PARTS Pro Truck Series events.
The 1999 PARTS Pro Truck Series will kick off February 13 at St. Augustine Speedway in St. Augustine, Fla. The 12-race season will conclude at USA International Speedway on Oct. 23.
