The finish came in his 9th start.
Entering Season 1 of the Busch Series, Barker was part of the Barker family, along with Jay and Josh, that was looking to make a name for themselves in the SCRL. In his first start for the series, Barker finished a disappointing 33rd after being caught up in the race's second "big one", a 37th at the first Richmond, before scoring a league and series best finish of 4th at Bristol. A 27th at Martinsville, 21st at Darlington, 28th at Hickory, 37th at South Boston and a 15th in the last round at Caraway, started off a rough first quarter of the season for Barker, who was looking to rebound in the return trip to Richmond.
For the second race in a row, the Richmond track not being big enough to fit all forty two cars, the field was split into two parts, the first thirty five drivers would race in the main event while the remaining 7 drivers raced in a LCQ(Last Chance Qualifier) to see who would advance.
On race day, Barker would roll off starting in the 11th spot while starting last was first Hickory last-place finisher the unsponsored #7 Pontiac of Truttle. The first six laps was run caution free, but on Lap 7 the battle for last ended, as Bristol last-place finisher the unsponsored #70 Pontiac of Todd Kennedy, got loose coming out of Turn 4 and hit the guard rail, spinning out on the frontstretch. Baker was nearly three seconds behind and tried to go to the high side to get by, but there wasn't enough room, slamming hard into the back of Kennedy. Barker's front end was caved in and the radiator was damaged, his front end completely destroyed. Barker would limp around the track and crossed the start/finish line to complete one more lap before pulling into the garage, his day done.
The remaining Bottom Five finished on the lead lap: 41st was the #4 Connie Mining Tire Pontiac of AJ Jones, 40th was the #21 Chattanooga Chew Pontiac of Derrick Edision, 39th was Daytona last-place finisher the unsponsored #6 Pontiac of Colin Dryburgh and 38th was the #7 of Truttle.
For Barker, he would never enjoy the thrills of victory lane in the SCRL's second highest division, but he would have his fifteen seconds of fame, competing in Season 1 of the SCRL Formula E Series, scoring his first league win at Long Beach before scoring his second and most recent victory later in the season at Suzuka, before finishing 6th in the final point standings.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #63 had finished last in the Busch Series as well as at Richmond.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #63-James Barker / 8 laps / crash
41) #4-AJ Jones / 25 laps / running
40) #21-Derrick Edision / 25 laps / running
39) #6-Colin Dryburgh / 25 laps / running
38) #7-Truttle / 25 laps / running
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