BARKSHIRE COMPLETES SEASON WITH ROOKIE TITLE AND THIRD PLACE IN POINTS RACE

Source: Jeff Barkshire Media Relations
Date: 12/01/2008

Jeff and the 46 team had high hopes they could achieve another top 5 finish on October 25th in the Camping World West Series’ final race in Roseville, California. It would have been their 8th top 5 finish of the 13 race season. They seemed headed for it when the bad luck hit. As Jeff explained, “We ran in the top 5 for most of the race and were in fourth, with a pretty good shot at gaining another couple spots, when I felt the right rear tire going down. Then we had a caution and elected to chance staying out as there was only 24 laps to go, but when the green flag dropped, the car had no bite and was trying to spin out so we got hammered from behind and put into the wall.” Following repairs, they were able to return to the track, but only to finish a disappointing l5th.

The disappointing final race though, couldn’t dampen the shared high spirits of the 46 team members for long, as they had completed what was a remarkable season of accomplishments for the rookie team; a season of goals met and lots learned. Their set goals, to win Rookie of the Year and finish with a top 5 spot in overall points were met impressively, as revealed in the season’s stats. They completed the 13 race season with 10 top 10 finishes, 7 top 5s, one win, 3rd in the overall Points Championship race, with Jeff’s Sunoco Rookie of the Year award won handily, receiving the Rookie of the Race award 9 times.

All was celebrated in elegant but bold, big, and fun Nascar style, at the season end Awards’ Banquet in Sacramento, California. With the team’s season highlights shown on three large screens, Jeff accepted acknowledgments and trophies with pride, and the required speeches. Reflecting back to the season’s beginning, Jeff shared his early uncertainty that the all volunteer team, with more heart than money or experience, could meet the many new challenges they would face running their first full “West” season: the different car, heavier and requiring different suspension set ups than those for their familiar Late Model cars, the constant out of state travel, racing on unfamiliar and untested tracks, running two road courses with zero previous experience, and knowing success would require the team to approach it all with that always important positive attitude, in spite of last season’s frustrating amount of bad luck. As the statistics prove, they did meet those challenges after all, and had a whole lot of fun doing it. As Jeff put it, “There were no awards given for the team of most laughs, but if there had been, we should have won it.”

Jeff recalled, “We began with a ‘we can do it’ attitude, and as we found ourselves consistently running up front with some pretty high dollar and experienced teams, our excitement and confidence grew.” Two of the season’s highlights were winning in front of their home state family and friends at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, and the thrilling 65 laps of lead changes with Cup driver Casey Kahne in Iowa, unfortunately ended when the 46 Car received damage as, while leading Kahne through lapped traffic, it was pinched into the wall.

Jeff’s dad and team owner Bob Barkshire shared his appreciation for the team. “I’ve always known Jeff had the will and the talent to be a top driver, but no driver runs up front without a good team behind him. We owe them and their families huge thanks for their effort and loyalty.” “Just to help me in the shop”, Jeff added, “means a few hours’ drive for most of my team, some coming from east of the Cascades, and some from Oregon.” Bob continued, “It’s been so great to watch Jeff’s efforts pay off – his many hours and all nighters in the shop, often alone, forever building and rebuilding the cars, and he and his crew chief Steve Dykman, who had very little experience with ‘West’ cars, finally getting the set ups good enough to run up front – it’s been a thrill.” Thanks were also given to Centennial Battery for their continued role in making the successful 08 season possible, as the 46 Dodge’s primary sponsor.

“We had a lot to learn,” Jeff said, “and a lot was learned by all. Hopefully we can run again next season, and building on that knowledge, do better yet in 2009.” They will be racing at the Toyota Allstar Showdown on January 24th in Irwindale, California.

Visit their website – jeffbarkshire.com

See Also .:

News Index | E-mail to a Friend