Scott Barnes Claims Two Titles At Rock Island
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Bermuda karting driver Scott Barnes achieved his goal of adding to his title collection at the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix at the weekend.
Barnes won the Margay Ignite Senior 2 and the Open Shifter Masters, the final two classes at the two-day event in Quad Cities – a metropolitan area on the Mississippi River in Illinois and Iowa.
The Bermuda Karting Club president also finished third in the Margay Ignite Senior 1 and the Briggs 206 Heavy 2 classes.
Barnes, a seven-time winner at Rock Island, said he was satisfied with his performances at the largest and most prestigious street race in North America.
“Overall, it was a good weekend,” said Barnes, who made his debut at Rock Island in 2001.
“I wanted more titles. I had a good Saturday in the pre-finals, with two wins, two seconds and two third places, which set me up well for Sunday.
“I dropped two classes for the finals because of mechanical issues and started in the top four in the remaining eight.”
The 37-year-old, who won one class and finished runner-up in two last year, had a frustrating start to the event, crashing on the final lap of the Ignite Masters Shootout when he was in the lead.
“The guy in second place made his move going into turn two,” said Barnes, who was racing for Ohio-based Magik Kart USA.
“That pushed me into the barriers on the exit. I also got flipped upside down on my head in the third race. I was one of three karts running bumper-to-bumper into a corner, and there was nowhere to go.
“Four wins for the weekend – two heats and two finals – is pretty good, though.
He added: “I did more than 250 laps in two days. The track was bumpier than last year. My ribs are killing me now!”
Barnes plans to compete at the CKNA Grand Nationals 6 in New Castle, Indiana, later this month, the Skusa SuperNationals in Las Vegas in November and the WKA Daytona Kartweek at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida in December.
