PARTS Pro Truck Series: Barrett Makes Comeback at Mobile
27 May 1998
MOBILE, Ala. -- The PARTS (Professional Association of Racing Trucks) Pro Truck Series were greeted with packed stands at Mobile International Speedway Saturday night (May 23), but all those fans left before knowing who won the race.Following an apparent victory in the ESAB Welding Products 60, Blake Bainbridge's mount failed a post-race inspection giving the win to Kevin Barrett of Cleveland, Ga. It is the third win in four races for Barrett and the Barnacles Restaurant/DISH Network Chevrolet.
Bainbridge won the Re/Max Pole Award and Barrett started on the inside of the second row. Todd Bontrager of Sarasota, Fla., put his Precision Communications Services Chevy in front for two laps in the early stages of the race, but Bainbridge came back to take the point.
Barrett pressured the leader for the entire 60 laps with several trucks attached to his rear bumper. Raymond Lovelady of Lakeland, Fla. qualified eighth fastest, but had to battle with Tim Dobbs, Randy Haney and Butch Gafnea before he could claim the runner-up position in the TelStar Communication Gear Chevrolet.
Gafnea and Dobbs swapped positions through the entire race, but it was Gafnea taking third at the finish and Dobbs settling for fourth. Haney rounded out the top-five finishers.
Three drivers made a determined charge to the front, improving their starting position by 16 places by the end of the race. Thomas Carter of Bellview, Fla., John Murr of Atlantic Beach, Fla. and Coon Ayers of Mt. Airy, Ga tied for the Mama Mary's Gourmet Pizza Crust Hard Charger Award.
It was Carter taking the honors by virtue of finishing highest in the official results. Carter started 25th and had worked his way into ninth place by the time the checkered flag came out.
In addition to taking the winner's purse and being presented with a trophy, Barrett was also awarded a welder valued at $2,500 by race sponsor ESAB Welding Products. Bainbridge claimed the Finish Line Racing School Half-Way Leader award.
In PARTS Pro Truck Series Division 2 competition, it was Phil Peppers of Jefferson, Ga. winning the 25-lap event and transferring into the ESAB Welding Products 60 National feature. Chad Hoopaugh of Pendergrass, Ga., Carter and Murr finished second, third and fourth in the Division 2 race and also transferred to the National.
The PARTS Pro Truck Series competitors will take a week off before making a visit to Montgomery USA Speedway for the June 6 Ice House 60.
