Jackson 100
Brownstown, In
August 19th, 2006

Steve Barnett is 49 years old and lives in Franklin, Indiana with his wife Jeannie.. ..They have two daughters Mindy and Stevie and a grandaughter Breanna..

... He runs the #89 late model with a C J Rayburn chassi and a Rayburn engine...

Steve considers Brownstown, Indiana as his hometrack and I guess he should .. He started his racing career at Brownstown in 1975..... His favorite tracks are Brownstown , Indiana and Eldora...

I asked Steve if he had a reason behind his #89 and he told me that it had been his highschool football number..

Steve told me he started racing 31 years ago and in the late model division...

I could have spent hours talking with this man... he has a lot of history when it comes to racing....
He said he got involved with racing because he had been around it all his life .... his father owned racecars that other drivers ran for him.... names such as Russ Petro, Paul Crockett and Rodger Absher..

The driver he most admires is Tony Stewart...
.***Steve met Tony Stewart around 1992 when he became Tony's teammate.. Driving a Silver Crown for the first time Steve finished eighth in the feature.... Said him and Tony have remained friends through the years and the two decided to become teammates again in 1996 when Tony decided to try the dirt late model circuit... said he maintains Tony's J.D. Byrider sponsored late model and takes it to the tracks when Tony's schedule permits....

I asked Steve what he thought it took to be a good driver and he told me a lot of experience and a lot of patience.

When I asked if he had a goal he told me it was to strive to be the best that he can be...

He told me that his toughest competitors locally over the years have been John Gill and Don Oneal..

When asked if he felt anything needed changing in racing he told me that he was pretty much satisfied with how things are..

He has numerous highlights in his career:
*14 career track championships
*6-time Northern All Stars Champion
*over 30 wins at Brownstown Speedway
* in 1993 he ran the STARS series finishing as the Rookie of the Year placing sixth in the final points and winning one feature
Also something that stands out for Steve that was important for him was taking 2nd in the Dream
**and he also told me that he has started in 23 Jackson 100 races and the first one was in 1980...

On a preference on HIgh groove or low groove he told me he likes whatever is working for his car at the time... but does prefer the dry slick track..

His crew chief is Brad Hale.... team members are Brad and his wife Jeannie...

Wanted to put out a special thanks to Jim Barnett, Tony Steart and J.D. Byrider

Thankyou so much Steve for the interview.... I really enjoyed talking with you and think there are a whole lot of stories I that I could get from you on racing... I hope to run into you again...
Thankyou for the autograph card of you and of Tony Stewart... very much appreciated!!!
cj

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August 26, 2006 win

Steve Barnett Redeems Himself at Brownstown with Feature Win Last Saturday

(FRANKLIN, INDIANA) The Steve Barnett Racing team traveled to the Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, Indiana last Saturday evening, looking to avenge their disappointing ‘Jackson 100’ weekend from the week prior. Steve and the #89 team did just that, as they swept the night’s racing activities.

The Franklin, Indiana native laid down a lap of 14.252 in qualifying, which was good enough to set fast time for the evening. The "Franklin Flyer" went on to win his heat race before besting Tim Prince and Justin Blackwell in the 25-lap feature event! The $1,200 win was the third for the #89 team this season and the second at the famed 1/4-mile, semi-banked Brownstown oval.

“It was great to rebound with a win at Brownstown after I messed up at the Jackson,” commented Barnett earlier in the week via telephone. “I just made the wrong adjustments on the car last week, but we got the car right again on Saturday night and it was pretty good. This coming weekend will be a big week for us with three Crate races and the race on Saturday at Brownstown. I have to thank John Bragg for giving me the opportunity to race his Crate car this weekend at Union County, Lawrenceburg, and Vernon. It should be interesting and hopefully the fans will enjoy it.”

Plans for the upcoming weekend will keep Steve on the racetrack for four straight nights of wheel-to-wheel racing action. On Friday night, September 1, Steve will drive a Crate Late Model at the Union County Speedway in Liberty, Indiana. Steve will also pilot the John Bragg-owned machine at the Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, Indiana on Sunday, as well as the Twin Cities Raceway Park in Vernon, Indiana on Labor Day. The Crate Late Model Series is a new, cost-efficient idea in Dirt Late Model racing and in an effort to help promote the idea; Steve has agreed to hop behind the wheel of one. The car Steve will be driving over the weekend features a familiar C.J. Rayburn chassis and will sport a #6 on the side of it. Steve will also visit the legendary Brownstown Speedway on Saturday, September 2 with his usual #89 machine.

Steve Barnett Racing would like to thank all of their sponsors for their continued help and support. Those sponsors include: J.D. Byrider, Tony Stewart Motorsports, Advanced Racing Suspensions, Aeroquip Performance Products, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, C-Line Engineering, Delph Communications, Dyer's Rods, E-Z Crusher, G.B. Graphics, Hoosier Tire, Jeff Clements Racing Engines, Mason Racin', Peterson Fluid Systems, PPM Racing Products, R&B Construction, Simpson, Spear's Auto Parts, Sunoco Racing Fuel, True Speed Enterprises, Weld Racing Wheels, Wick Oil, and Wilwood.

To learn more about Steve Barnett Racing, please point your web browser to www.stevebarnett89.com.

Media Contact: Darin Stewart - Delph Communications
www.delphcommunications.com

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ICEBREAKER...MARCH 21, 2009
BROWNSTOWN, IN

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