Thursday, June 9, 2022

Throwback TRUCKS: Josh Barker fails to advance in LCQ at Mesa Marin



Josh Barker picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series career in the Season 1 Spears Manufacturing 200 at the Mesa Marin Raceway when his #2 Ultra Custom Wheels / ASE Ford completed all 15 laps in the LCQ.

The finish, which came in his 19th career start, was his first on the circuit since the Stevens Beil / Genuine Car Parts 150 at the Flemington Speedway when he completed all 10 laps in the LCQ; 5 races ago.

After trailing the field at Flemington, Barker finished 38th after being in a mid-race crash at Richmond, 4th at Martinsville, 8th at North Wilkesboro before finishing 21st in the last round at Sears Point.

With the track only able to fit 34 trucks, the last four in points would be forced to battle it out for the last two spots. On race day, Barker would roll off the field in 2nd place in the LCQ while starting last was Evergreen last-place finisher the #83 Coffee Critic Chevrolet of Richard Torres a position that Torres would hold for the first lap before knocking Barker into the final spot on Lap 2, Barker would hold for two laps before Torres fell back to last on Lap 4 but would rebound by knocking Barker into the final spot once again on Lap 5. Barker would try over the next ten laps to try and pass Torres once again but could never find the right chance, failing to gain a spot over the remaining laps and failed to transfer along with Torres, who was scored 35th.

Finishing 34th was the #52 AC Delco of Cesar Chavez, who was caught up in a multi-truck crash just seconds after the green flag was waved, having not completed a single lap.

The remaining Bottom Five would be involved in a Lap 10 crash on the backstretch: 33rd was the #24 DuPont Refinishes of John Arndt and 32nd was IRP last-place finisher the #08 Ultra Custom Wheels Ford of Evan Rudd.

Barker's victory at Colorado earlier in the season would be his lone visit to victory lane in the truck series, as he would finish 34th in the overall point standings. Barker currently has 4 career SCRL wins and still competes to this day.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #2 had finished last at Mesa Marin.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
36) #2-Josh Barker / 15 laps / running
35) #83-Richard Torres / 15 laps / crash
34) #52-Cesar Chavez / 0 laps / crash
33) #24-John Arndt / 10 laps / crash
32) #08-Evan Rudd / 11 laps / crash

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