Steve Barnett Captures 1st Annual Lee Fleetwood Memorial at Brownstown Speedway
Brownstown, IN – May 29 – "Lee Fleetwood was a really good friend of mine… I needed this win," stated an elated Steve Barnett of Franklin, IN after winning the $2,000 to win the inaugural Lee Fleetwood Memorial Saturday night at Brownstown Speedway. The event was 57 laps in length in honor of Fleetwood’s car number. Barnett’s entry was a GRT Chassis powered by a Neibel Racing Engine with AFCO Shocks working the suspension on the race car.
Ernie Barrow and Marty O’Neal brought the 25 car field to the green flag, with Barrow taking the lead followed by Barnett, O’Neal, Scott Smith, and Gary Barrow. Debris on the track in turn one slowed the field on lap 2, but Ernie Barrow continued to lead after the restart. The race for fifth began to heat up and Greg Williams took the spot from Gary Barrow on lap 9. Ernie Barrow and Barnett began to drive away from the field at this point and handled slower traffic beautifully around the ¼ Jackson County Fairgrounds oval. The battle for the lead would heat up on lap 27 as the lead duo began to attempt to lap the car of Cale Kern. The caution would then appear on lap 29 for a spin by Scott Ross, who spun again on the attempted restart, ending his night. With the next restart, the front four of Barrow, Barnett, O’Neal, and Smith stayed the same with Dan Sturgeon breaking into the top five on lap 30. Barrow and Barnett would continue to battle for the lead, then on lap 35, Barnett shot past Barrow for the lead. Two laps later, the caution would wave for a spin by fourth place running Scott Smith, closing up the field for a restart.
At this point, Barnett’s mount really gathered a head of steam and began driving away from the field. One last caution appeared on lap 46 for a Mark Bechelli spin in turn three. After the restart, Barnett continued to pull away from the field and motored home to the victory in his Bradley Chevrolet/Complete Hydraulic Sales and Service/Reynolds Construction #89. Ernie Barrow would finish second with O’Neal, Sturgeon, and Gary Barrow completing the top five. Williams, Smith, Doug Ault, Bechelli, and Frankie Coomer rounded out the top ten.
The UMP Modified 25 lap feature saw plenty of action and Nelson Gingery passed Rob Brickert for the lead on lap 10 and motored away from the field in his Tyree’s Trim Shop #15 entry. The Seymour, IN pilot had a relatively easy time once he gained the lead, but the race for second through five lasted all night long with Matt Boknecht coming away with second, , as Rob Brickert outduelled Randy Petro for third on the last lap. Defending track champion Brad Cummings came home fifth. Adam Sasser finished sixth after starting 17th, with John DeMoss, Earl Plessinger, Richie Lex, and Brad Thrasher completing the top ten.
Defending Street Stock track champion and current point leader Tim Clark of North Vernon, IN led wire-to-wire to score the 25 lap feature win for the division. Rusty Smiley and Trent Niflis battled for the runner-up spot, with Smiley winning the battle for the spot. Mike Fields finished fourth after starting 18th on the grid, with Barry Gerkin completing the top five. Kevin Jones finished sixth after starting 20th, with Willie Sallee, Al Flick, Joe Johnson, and Paul Seymour rounding out the top ten.