SALEM, Ind. – Chuck Barnes Jr. scored his second-straight victory in the Firecracker 150 Sunday evening at Salem Speedway.
The race ran under the lights and was interrupted by several cautions. A 10-car pileup on a restart at lap 130 eliminated several top contenders, including 10-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel, who was racing in place of his son, who had prior commitments. His nephew, Wil Kimmel, was fastest qualifier but retired on lap 10 with an engine problem.
Barnes held on to pick up the victory in the 32nd running of the event, followed by 2019 race winner Skeeter Crum, David Bayens, Shawn Smith and Marcus Elliott.
The Affordable Ford Crown Vics dominated a majority of the program with some outstanding races. The Fords accounted for eight heat races and four features using the quarter-mile track as well, for the first time in history, the .555-mile high bank track.
Daniel Durrett, driving his ’05 Gambler Garage special out of Brooks Ky., won a suit case full of first place awards and track records. Durrett set the Ford track qualifying record (22.393 seconds) on the high banks. He continued by winning the oval feature ahead of John Lister, Greg Smith, Jake Wells and Jamie Bierman Harbin.
On the high banks, Durrett won the second heat race on the banks. Starting in sixth position in the big track 15-lap feature. He patiently walked through the field for the win.
“It’s awesome, but it’s the car not me,” Durrett said.
Rounding out the top five were Eric Childress, James Mikesell, Garrett Roby and Jacob Robertson.
On the quarter-mile track, Daniel Lister won the 30-lap feature figure 8 followed by Jake Wells and Jake Robertson. In the Ford Powder Puff race, Miranda Basham caught and passed Maranda Jane to win the feature.
“You are not a Basham unless you have a Salem trophy,” said Miranda Basham.
Sunday’s race was broadcast live by SPEED SPORT TV affiliate Dirt2Media.