1-800-PIT-SHOP.COM 300 - Stanton Barrett Notes

Barrett, Going Back to Cali

Fontana, N.C. (April 23, 2002) – Stanton Barrett, who was born and raised in California (Bishop), has been looking forward to the 1-800-PIT-SHOP.COM 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at California Speedway ever since he signed with Roush Racing last November to drive the No. 60 OdoBan Taurus. Barrett, a veteran Hollywood stuntman of 15 years, just recently became a full-time resident of North Carolina in order to focus on his racing career. This weekend at California Speedway, Barrett will no doubt feel back at home as well as be a hometown favorite.

“I moved away from my family and my friends in the movie industry when I got this opportunity with OdoBan and Roush,” said Barrett. “They understand because they know how important my racing career is to me. This weekend, I am stoked to be back and get to see family, but it is extra special since the show is coming to my home state and I am driving one of the most competitive cars in the race.”

Barrett spent his off weekend on the set of the new Spider-Man 2 movie, stunt doubling for the character Harry Osborn played by James Franco, as well as giving his input for some of the film’s stunt work. Barrett was in high spirits after the weekend enjoying his brief stint back into his former career.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Barrett. “Getting a chance to see some of my movie friends reminds me how much I enjoy that line of work. We designed a pulley and rope system for some of the movies action scenes. I had to hang upside down on them outside of a building at one point, but nothing too dangerous.”

Though Barrett finished in the top-15 in his first Busch Series race at California and has two starts since then, he knows this weekend could be his best chance for a top finish. Coming off his best finish since 1995 last week, a fifth at Nashville Superspeedway, Barrett climbed four positions in the points to 17th. So far in 2003 he has maintained a 20.5 average finishing position and a 10.1 average starting position. The best such averages of his career, leaving Barrett poised for a breakthrough run this weekend.

“I think to some extent the OdoBan Racing Team’s progress has been overlooked,” said Barrett. “We may not have as many good a finishes as Grg (Biffle) had at this point last season but I feel this is still a championship caliber team. We are always one of the quickest cars on the track, and we have put together some strong runs despite having a lot of hard luck this season. That luck could change this weekend. When I first looked at the full Busch Series schedule I pointed to this one as the race I was most excited about. California is one of my favorite tracks and after growing up in California and living in Hollywood for so long, a win here would mean so much to me.”

Barrett will be back on track gunning for his first career Busch Series pole and victory in front of a hometown crowd this weekend when the NASCAR Busch Series visits, California Speedway, for the running of the 1-800-PIT-SHOP.COM 300, Saturday April 24th. The event will be televised live on FOX and broadcast worldwide on MRN radio at 4 pm EDT.

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