Tommy Barrett Jr. in the Late Model he will race Saturday at the Waterford Speedbowl
WATERFORD – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour rookie Tommy Barrett Jr. got introduced to something new Saturday afternoon at the Waterford Speedbowl.
Fenders on a racecar.
Barrett will make his Late Model division debut Saturday at the Waterford Speedbowl.
Saturday’s practice marked the first time behind the wheel of a full-sized car with fenders for the 18-year old from Millis, Mass.
“The only fendered car I’ve ever driven is an Allison Legacy car when I was like 12 years old,” Barrett said. “That’s really nothing compared to this.
Barrett will drive the Ted Butler owned Late Model at the Speedbowl. Butler started the season with Ray Christian III behind the wheel. Corey Hutchings drove the car in the last event at the Speedbowl.
“Why not?” Barrett said when asked why he was in the car. “I can get some experience in a fendered car, hopefully for some things coming up.”
Crew chief Tim Longton said the relationship could blossom into more than a one-off evening at the shoreline oval for the team and Barrett.
“We’re looking for the right guy for the car,” Longton said. “We’ve got a really good car here. If he likes it and we like him and everything gels – and so far it is – maybe we’ll do something more in the future.”
Barrett, who is driving for team owner Chris Our on the Whelen Modified Tour after competing regularly the last two years with the Valenti Modified Racing Series, liked the idea of running the Late Model as much as his schedule will allow.
“I want to race as much as possible in anything,” said Barrett, who picked up his first career Whelen Modified Tour pole award in the Spring Sizzler last weekend at Stafford Motor Speedway. “It’s been fun so far. I don’t know what their plans are for the upcoming weeks, I guess we’ll see.”
Longton said Barrett picked up on the intricacies of wheeling the Late Model in quick fashion in practice.
“He’s never been in a Late Model before and his first lap was like a 15.8 [seconds], like a tenth off the fastest guys,” Longton said. “I’m pretty impressed with how fast he took over.”
Said Barrett: “It was good. The car is handling well. I just want to get some seat time and get to know these guys a little bit. I’m not really expecting anything, I just want to get some experience.”
That kid is a wheelman for sure, you can just see it.