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Thursday, June 25, 2009 9:12 AM CDT
The Pit Pass
This summer, the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier continues to profile drivers from area race tracks. The Charleston Speedway is featured in this segment.
JEFF BARKER
Class: Modified
Car No.: B28
Make/Model: GRT 383
Colors: Black and orange
Nickname: Jeff the Jet
Age: 24
Hometown: Charleston
Occupation: Landscaping
Family: Leslie Lang; Bailey Heddins; Joe and Debbie Barker (parents); Jamie and Kendra Barker (brother and sister-in-law); Chase Barker (nephew)
Pets: Wyatt (boxer)
Years racing: 8
Other tracks: Clay County Speedway
Favorite racing Web site: 4m.net
Track titles: 2001 Vermilion County Bomber champion
Most memorable win: Beating Rick Hufford & Chuck Hagga in the Sportsman feature
Proudest moment: Giving trophies to kids and signing autographs for them.
Most forgettable moment: Losing helmet while packing the track
Favorite form of racing (other than dirt): 4-wheelers
Least favorite form of racing: Indy car
Toughest aspect of racing: Finding the money to be competitive
If I wasn’t racing, I would: “probably be rich.”
Speeding tickets: 2
Favorite driver (all-time): Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Favorite dirt track drivers: Chad Kinder and Jeff Leka
Favorite Track: Terre Haute Action Track
Favorite race: Daytona 500
Season goal: To finish a feature
Motto: “Go fast and turn left.”
ROB FUQUA
Class: Modified
Car No.: 3F
Motor: Mullins
Chassis: Pierce
Colors: Black and purple
Nickname: Rockin’ Rob Fuqua
Age: 39
Hometown: Paris
Occupation: Owner of Fuqua Trucking
Family: Bob and Sue (parents); Kendra (girlfriend); Kali, Kelsey, Briana and Ashton (daughters)
Crew members: Steve Harmon, Steve Blair, Tyler Really and Cody Redmon
Pets: Reeses, Dale, Sadi, Rusty and Tasha (dogs)
Hobbies: Driving a taxi and shuttling kids
Years racing: 10
Other tracks: Kamp Motor Speedway and Vermilion County
Personal Web site: RobFuqua.com
Best racing moment: Passing Denny Schwartz to win at Danville
Most memorable win: Ken Schrader Challenge at Pevely, Mo.
Most forgettable moment: Fuqua and Schwartz taking each other out on the last lap at Charleston Speedway in 2008
Biggest race: East Bay Raceway Winter Nationals at Tampa, Fla.
Favorite form of racing (other than dirt): NASCAR
Least favorite form of racing: Non-winged sprints
Toughest aspect of racing: The competition level
If I wasn’t racing, I would be: “I don’t really know.”
Speeding tickets: 4
Top rivals: Denny and Danny Schwartz, Jeff Leka, Jason Lankey, Randall Sweeney and Mike Harrison
Favorite driver (all-time): Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Favorite dirt track driver: Denny Schwartz
Motto: “Get up on the wheel.”
Fast fact: Fuqua started his racing career in demolition derbies.
DONOVAN STARK
Class: Hornet
Car No.: 34c
Make/Model: 2001 Ford Escort
Body/Motor: Zx2/2.0 zetech
Colors: Black, orange and silver
Nickname: Crazy Ed
Age: 29
Hometown: Oakland
Occupation: Self-employed (auto mechanic and body repair)
Family: Sabrina (wife) and Charles (son)
Pets: Boomer (beagle) and Princess (labrador)
Interests: Fishing
Years racing: 8
Favorite racing Web site: 4m.net and 4dirt.net
Best racing moment: Running door to door for three laps at Brownstown
Most memorable win: Last race of 2008; “Didn’t think I had a chance and my car just hooked and went.”
Most forgettable moment: Forgot hood pins
Proudest moment: Getting handshake from Jim Cross Jr. after second-place finish
Favorite form of racing (other than dirt): Rock crawl
Least favorite form of racing: Drag racing
Toughest aspect of racing: Keeping your cool
If I wasn’t racing, I would: “be working on cars.”
Speeding tickets: 5
Top rivals: Jesse Leo, Jim Cross Jr., Joey Smyser and Eric Winn
Favorite driver (all-time): Mark Martin
Favorite dirt track driver: Mike Harrison
Favorite tracks: Charleston, Clay County (Flora) and Fayette County (Brownstown)
Motto: “Win some, lose some, let it go.”
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