Answer Found: Larry Barnett Ends Long Winless Streak In Limited Sportsman At Thompson

Larry Barnett celebrates victory in the Limited Sportsman feature Wednesday at Thompson Speedway (Photo: Jim DuPont)

THOMPSON – At 55 years old, Larry Barnett began to ask himself the question.

The all-time winningest Limited Sportsman division driver at Thompson Speedway was wondering if his days of winning were over. A nearly four year winless streak at the track made that a question he had to ask himself.

“You just work so hard and you’re trying to figure out if you can still do it,” and emotional Barnett said. “I wasn’t sure of the answer anymore.

“I guess it happens at every level, from the [NASCAR Monster Energy Cup] Series on down. I heard Denny Hamlin talking about a similar thing. … You start going “Is really the car bad, or is it just me?” And you’re not sure.”

Wednesday at Thompson Barnett found the answer to his question. His winning days aren’t over.

Barnett drove away from the field to win the 20-lap Limited Sportsman feature Wednesday at Thompson Speedway.

Shawn Monahan of Waterford was second and Scott Sundeen of Douglas, Mass. third. 

It was the 69th career victory in the division for Barnett. 

Barnett was rolling right along quite successfully in 2013 when everything about his racing career changed dramatically on July 18, 2013.

Barnett had won the first of two Limited Sportmsan features at Thompson Speedway that night. It was his fourth victory in six events that year. Then in the second feature he destroyed his car.

“It’s been a struggle ever since,” Barnett said. “I put a front clip on it and the car has never been happy ever since.”

Before this season Barnett turned to veteran chassis specialist Barry Fluckiger in attempt to find what he was missing.

“I definitely had lost my way on setup of the car,” Barnett said. “That’s why I decided to get some help and it worked out, the combination of what Barry recommended and I what I did. But it’s been a struggle.”

Wednesday, before the feature, Barnett made wholesale adjustments. He changed three springs after his heat race and the gearing in his transmission.

“After the heat race we decided that we were so terrible.” Barnett said. “[Fluckiger] just put his whole setup in and I was struggling with it. We basically rolled the dice.”

Eric Bourgeois of East Haddam won the 15-lap Mini Stock feature. Wayne Burroughs Jr. of Oakdale was second and Doug Curry of Groton third.

Chad Labastie of Uxbridge, Mass. won the 20-lap NEMA Lites feature.

Comments

  1. Phil Jacques says

    So great to see Larry back in Victory Lane! I know he and Jonny have been busting their tails to get this new car dialed in. Really glad to see it pay off for them finally!

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