Barnes’ Texas fightback

Scott Barnes saw his engine overheat and lost a bolt off a rear wheel while racing in Texas.

Even though he was not able to defend his Lone Star Grand Prix karting title, he was happy with the results under trying circumstances.

He competed in the 125 Shifter Stock Light and Modified classes. The Shifter Class had twice as many competitors as the Modified – 31 to 15, but the competition was tough in both groups Barnes said.

“There were a lot of fast guys there from all over the States, including the number one driver, Sabre Cook, who is an 18-year-old girl.”

During the qualifiers on Saturday, Barnes earned the fourth position in the Stock Light class and second in the Modified.

“I was happy with the qualifiers, but I had some bad luck in the pre-final.”

He lost a rear bolt in the second lap of the Stock Light and had his rim come off, giving him a Did Not Finish.

That then pushed him back to 27th for the main race on Sunday.

“I worked my way up to sixth so I was real happy with that. One more lap I would have had fifth — one spot away from the podium and starting 27th, that’s not bad.

“I had to be aggressive but not over aggressive on the first lap — especially the first two corners because there is going to be some sort of pile up, which there was in turn one.

“After that first lap, I had to get my head down, balls to the wall and get as many drivers as I could.”

In the Modified Class his engine overheated and left with him a seventh starting position for Sunday’s main race and finished third.

He plans on competing in several more races in the US before the end of the year including a road race in Ohio in June and the Rock island Grand Prix in Illinois.