Carquest Auto Parts 300 - Stanton Barrett Notes

Stanton Barrett Notes, Quotes: Charlotte 300

‘Big race – but they are all big races’

Stanton Barrett and the #60 OdoBan Taurus NASCAR Busch Series team head to the 1.5-mile Lowe’s Motor Speedway, located near Charlotte, N.C., this week for Saturday’s 300-miler.

Coming off solid runs the past several weeks and with his experience on the intermediate tracks, Barrett could be headed towards a spectacular finish this week. Last season was his initial race with his own team , and showed the tremendous promise the young driver has not only behind the wheel, but as a team leader as well. He joined forces with Roush Racing this year.

An award-winning stunt man in Hollywood - Barrett’s family is often referred to as the “Earnhardts of stunts” - he has been racing and working most of his adult life, his dream to be with a top NASCAR team. Hired by Jack Roush for this season, Barrett moved behind the wheel of the #60 OdoBan Ford, which won the national Busch championship last year with driver Greg Biffle. So far this season, the team has been strong and consistent.

OdoBan Odor Eliminator is a product of Clean Control Corporation of Warner Robins, Ga. Clean Control manufactures and markets a line of cleaning and disinfecting products. While OdoBan Odor Eliminator is the leading product, other OdoBan products include Stain Cleaner, Glass Cleaner, and Grease Cleaner. The OdoBan family of products includes a line of automotive products, as well as retail, household, industrial and private label.

The thoughts of OdoBan Ford driver Stanton Barrett heading into Charlotte:

“Any race is important but any race at Lowe’s tends to make on a greater importance. If nothing else, it’s because of its location. Because of the fan base and the fact that it is the ‘Mecca of Motorsports,’ it’s where so many teams are based and it’s the area where NASCAR first really took off.

“If you are in stock car racing, you want to race there and you want to win there. That, too, makes it important to run well there.

“It’s a great track, it’s a big race and there are a lot of fans there. I’m always ready to go everywhere we run and we want to win everywhere we run but the one at Lowe’s would definitely be a good one for the OdoBan team to win, for sure.

“The key to Lowe’s. That’s pretty simple. Drive your butt off every lap. Your car has to have a good setup too but some people just have a knack for that track and some don’t. The track is tough. You just have to race hard every lap and make changes in the pits whenever you get the opportunity. Normally there are some long green-flag runs in races there, so you have to set your car up accordingly.

“A good run at Lowe’s usually starts with qualifying. Qualifying is important anywhere we go but it takes a step forward in importance at a track like Lowe’s. Track position is key because you don’t have many cautions in the races there. You always want to qualify up front because it gives you so much better track position. It’s always a lot easier to start up front before the race than get up front after the race starts.

“The track is very weather-sensitive. As far as race setup, there isn’t much you can do about it. You prepare as a driver probably mostly during Happy Hour. The weather sensitivity affects you more during qualifying. I’ve seen a lot of times at Lowe’s where the weather determined who got into the race and who didn’t. Back when we would have 60 cars trying to get into the field, a couple a guys would get cloud cover, then the sun would come out during your run and it would cost you two or three tenths (of a second), just like that. When the sun goes behind a cloud, a car will gain two or three tenths, then the sun comes out and the times start slowing down.

“Lowe’s is probably the most weather sensitive track on the circuit. I’ve been caught there many times by the weather during qualifying. The weather there during qualifying can be the difference between winning the pole and making the race. It will be a big factor in everybody’s weekends, but especially on qualifying day.

“We’re excited about it and looking forward to it. We want to see what we can do with this OdoBan Taurus.”

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