Scott Barnes To Race In Grand Nationals
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Karting driver Scott Barnes is set to challenge himself against some of the top L206 class drivers in the United States when he competes in the Cup Karts North American [CKNA] Grand Nationals 8 in New Castle, Indiana, this weekend.
Barnes, racing in the Masters and Senior Heavy classes, will make his debut in the prestigious event.
His goal is to secure top-five finishes in both classes, where he will face stiff competition – more than 70 drivers in the Senior Heavy class and 50 in the Masters.
“The goal is the same for me – I always try to win and want to finish in the top five,” Barnes told Bernews.
“It’s a huge competition – it pulls in more than 600 entries in all classes.
“I want to see how I stack up against the best L206 drivers in the US. Hopefully, I can stay clean and don’t crash!”
Although Barnes is primarily known as a Shifters driver, he is no stranger to the L206 kart, having gained plenty of experience with the slower, more technical vehicle over the years.
“The L206 kart is much slower than the Shifter, and you need to race much smoother,” said Barnes, who represents Maranello Kart USA.
“You need to be smooth and consistent. One little mistake can cost you several positions.
“In a Shifter, you have the horsepower to correct your mistakes, but with a low-horsepower motor, you must be smooth.”
Barnes also highlighted the importance of race craft on the long track at New Castle Motor Sports Park, where drafting plays a key role in success.
“It’s a long track and you need to know how to draft and get help from other karts,” he added.
Barnes’ weekend will include qualifying on Friday, three heat races on Saturday, and the final on Sunday.
Barnes is sponsored by Butterfield & Vallis, representing their Powerade brand.
