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AKRA: Bowling, Barnes double at Super National

Story by Bruce C. Walls GARNER, N.C.-One hundred and forty-eight racers entered day one the American Kart Racing Association's premiere Dyno Cams Super Nationals Saturday June 10. Ridgeway, VA racer Matt Bowling and Walt Barnes of Mooresville, ...


Story by Bruce C. Walls

GARNER, N.C.-One hundred and forty-eight racers entered day one the American Kart Racing Association's premiere Dyno Cams Super Nationals Saturday June 10. Ridgeway, VA racer Matt Bowling and Walt Barnes of Mooresville, N.C. each earned double wins on Johnson County Speedway's fast fifth mile dirt oval. From their poles Bowling bagged wins in JDI/Foodcraft Junior 2 and Ghost Racing Junior Sportsman Champ. Barnes topped Walt Barnes Vinyl Siding Senior Stock and Shadow Racing Stock Heavy, also from their poles.

A 13.291-seconds run earned Bowling Junior 2's pole. Brandon Brown spun a 13.403-seconds lap for the outside pole. When they got the green flag Bowling, Brown and Hunter Devers went three-wide into turn one. As they exited turn two Bowling blasted into a never surrendered lead. While Bowling enjoyed a huge lead, the fight for second kept his competitors from closing in. Twenty-laps later Bowling crossed the stripe with a huge 3.435- seconds lead over Brown. G-Baby Bunch, Jake Morris and Tyler Camp came in third through fifth.

"When I got out there I was good," said the 12-year-old double winner during his first trip to Victory Lane. "The Charger kart was fast and Tod Miller's motor was fast."

Bowling and Brown also shared Ghost Racing Junior Sportsman Champ's front row with times of 13.986 and 14.176-seconds. Once again Bowling took the early lead with the battle for second behind him. While Brown and Bunch battled over second Bowling stretched out the lead again this time taking the final flag with a 2.144-seconds cushion over Brown. Brown was disqualified for being light at the scale advancing Dean from third to second.

"I got a big lead early," Bowling said of his second win. "The Charger Kart and Miller motor were fast again."

Barnes bagged Senior Stock's pole with a 13.096-seconds lap. Barnes hustled into the initial lead. Two laps later third fastest qualifier Linwood Bradley slipped by him. Before Barnes could close in on him Lee Jones began challenging him for second. With the fight for second raging behind him Bradley extended his lead. Barnes secured second at mid-race and began closing in on Bradley. Barnes was on Bradley's back bumper with five laps left. Barnes recaptured the lead next time around, took the white flag followed by the checkered flag. Behind him Bradley, Ricky Batts, Donnie Greenwaldt and Edward Buck rounded out the top five.

"The motor got real hot. I guess I didn't pull enough tape off it after qualifying," Barnes explained. "I went to the needle and fatten her up a little bit and the temperature came down and then I started to run him (Bradley) down. I was trying to get more fuel to it because it was too hot. It was running about 475 (degrees) and before I adjusted it, it didn't have any top end."

Stock Heavy outside pole winner Brett Miller got the early jump on Barnes, but before he could complete a lap caution waved returning Barnes to the front for the restart. This time they started single file and when the green flag returned Barnes made sure Miller didn't get by him. As Barnes expanded his lead, Mechanicsville, VA based Scott Bajer blew by Miller and began closing in on Barnes. At the end Barnes owned a 1.297-seconds advantage over Bajer who was caught light at the scale. Bajer surrendered second to David Meade. Filling the rest of the official top five were, Josh Haire, Buck and Troy Bunch.

"It was all tires," Barnes explained. "Everybody else switched to Bridgestones and we stuck with the Maxxis and they were working for all day and we pulled it out. After 10-laps I was flat footing it."

Other Saturday winners were:

Stephen Adams-RLV Stock Lite
Ryan Heavener-Mike Holcombe's Tires & Auto Junior 1
Matt Broughton-Animal Heavy
Tanner Aman-Dean's Custom Air Junior Champ
Troy Bunch-Wyman's Acoustics Stock Super Heavy
Josh Haire-Ultramax Racing Chassis Senior Champ
Scotty Bajer-WMS Tru Roll Wheels Stock Medium
Bobby McCarty-Millennium Racing Chassis Junior 3
Adam Beville-Kolors by Keisler Limited Modified

-bruce c. walls-

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