Barnes Reflects On Year After Daytona Success
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Scott Barnes said he could not have hoped for a better end to the year after claiming four podium finishes at the Daytona KartWeek in Florida at the weekend.
The Bermudian, who competed in two classes at the four-day event, placed first in the Stock Shifter, second in the Stock Honda and KZ Shifter and third in the KZ Shifter.
It capped off a fine year competing overseas for Barnes, who claimed two third places at the Skusa SuperNationals in Las Vegas in November, two wins at the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix in September and claimed a title in the Skusa Winter Series in February.
He was also part of the Bermuda Triangle team, along with David Barbosa, David Selley, Marc Tucker and American Alex Mayor, which won the Masters class in the SimCraft 24 Hours in New Orleans in March.
The 38-year-old was making his fifth appearance in the Daytona KartWeek at the iconic Daytona International Speedway, having already clinched four wins and three second-place finishes at the annual competition.
“It was a great weekend, probably the best Daytona KartWeek I’ve ever had,” Barnes told Bernews. “To have four top threes, including a win, was pleasing.”
Barnes’s weekend was not without adversity, with his engine blowing up in his first practice session in the KZ Shifter class.
“I started the weekend off on the wrong foot,” Barnes said. “In the first practice session, my motor blew. I thought my weekend was over in the KZ Shifters.
“Fortunately, I borrowed a motor from another driver; however, that motor also had issues, which we had to fix on the morning of the race.
“Thankfully, I was able to finish in third in a bumper-to-bumper finish in my first race.”
Barnes will now turn his attention to the Skusa Winter Series, with the first two rounds of the competition being held at the AMR Homestead-Miami Motorplex in Florida from January 13 to 15.
He will look to retain the Masters class title he won last year after winning three of the four rounds.
“I’ll look to carry my momentum from last year into this year and keep on building,” said Barnes, who is sponsored by Butterfield & Vallis.
“Hopefully, I can start the season strongly at Homestead in a few weeks and retain my championship.”
