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63 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, September 17, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 27, 2004 Barnes rules super-4 class at speedway By DON HUNT Mail Tribune The first time Bryan Barnes took the track at the Southern Oregon Speedway, he ran his car up the back straightaway wall and smashed into one of the big poles near pit row. The accident took place on the first night the speedway opened in June of 1996, and it demolished Barnes’ mini stock car. The nightmarish debut unnerved the Southern California native, who had prided himself on his steady hand at the wheel while competing in off-road races in the Baja California Peninsula. "Get into a wreck down there," says Barnes, meaning the Baja Desert, "and you might be there for hours, or until the sweep crew comes along and picks you up." Barnes’ dubious beginning at the Southern Oregon Speedway wasn’t a harbinger of things to come, however. He quickly built another car, won the mini stock points title and has been one of the top drivers at the White City track ever since. Advertisement Barnes sped to his seventh victory of the summer in the super-4 class last Saturday and is zeroing in on his third points title. He has also twice finished second in points. "The secret for me is patience," says Barnes, a 44-year-old electronics technician at Keith Schulz Garage in Medford. "I wait for my opportunities and try not to rush things. You don’t win a race on the first lap." Barnes’ poise and composure was evident last Saturday when he started 12th in a field of 20. He didn’t take the lead until the 11th lap of the 20-lap feature event. Barnes’ car, a 2004 Racecraft chassis built by Skipper Klimcheck, is nearly identical to three other super-4 cars on the track, including the one operated by points runner-up Terry Hadley. Barnes believes all the years he raced off-road cars in Southern California — he started when he was 16 and continued until he moved to the Rogue Valley in 1993 — helps him immensely in his stock car. "You learn to slide your car on those dirt roads down there," says Barnes, nicknamed "Baja" by his fellow drivers. "You learn to maintain control and keep your car pointed in the right direction." Barnes hopes to continue racing, but says a lack of sponsorship concerns car owner Tim Claflin. "It’s hard to imagine winning a championship and not coming back to defend it," Barnes says. "Hopefully, we’ll work things out." Mark Wauge and Ray Kniffen, Jr., were placed on probation for the rest of the season for an incident during last Saturday’s modified feature race. After Kniffen crashed into Wauge and knocked his car into a cyclone fence near the main grandstands, bringing out a red flag, Wauge jumped out of his car and ran across the track to confront Kniffen. Track officials prevented the dispute from escalating. Wauge says the brouhaha got its start when the cars were being realigned following a caution flag one lap earlier. "Each of us thought we belonged in front of the other," Wauge says. Track officials gave the nod to Kniffen. Following the re-start, Wauge quickly passed Kniffen and waved to him as he went by. "I think that pi---d him off and on the next turn he drilled me," Wauge said. "I won’t say it was intentional. Maybe he was just mad and overdrove his car, but it’s hard not to get upset when someone puts you into the fence." Dave Everson took his first checkered flag of the season in the pro stocks class last Saturday after passing Rick Hunsley on the 23rd lap of the 25-lap feature race. "I haven’t had a real good year, so it felt great to finally get a win," Everson, 42, said. "And beating Hunsley made it all the better. He had his car set up good and he’s one of those veterans who knows all the tricks." Everson used the high side of the track on turn four to get past Hunsley, who started 15th in the field but took the lead from Everson on lap 12 and held it for 11 laps until Everson got it back. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities