Barnes team ready for September assault

- leading TNT 10.90 points chase -

Photo Credit - Mike Goodwin - www.mgdigital.ca

CANFIELD, ONTARIO (August 25, 2008)  When the 2008 racing season began for the Performance Improvements drag racing team of Ted & Bill Barnes, they knew they wanted to focus almost entirely on the Joe’s Transmission TNT 10.90 Super Series adding some IHRA events and attractive bracket races in between.  An early season win catapulted them into first place in the TNT standings and they’ve managed to hold on to that position through 4 of 9 TNT Super Series events.

But the remaining TNT events of 2008 are not going to be easy for the 2007 TNT Series Runner Up.  “We’ve got the Sept 5 race at DTRP (Dunn Tire Raceway Park), then a huge double-header weekend on Sept 13-14 at TMP (Toronto Motorsports Park) and then the final TNT event of 2008 back at DTRP in October,” said Ted.  “It’s going to be crazy!”

That early season win came at the first TNT event of 2008 at DTRP.  Given the cool temperatures of the day, entering their 383 Chev powered Datsun 510 in both TOP ET and TNT Hot Rod was easy.  With air temperature was hovering around 55 degrees and density altitude around 800’ all day, Ted & Bill took the win in TNT Hot Rod and also took the runner-up in TOP ET!  This landed them atop the 2008 Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series points standings.

In early July, the team participated in the ‘Show Me The Money’ high dollar bracket race at St Thomas Dragway.  Here, they went 4 rounds on Saturday and 4 rounds on Sunday.  As well, they managed a runner-up finish in Saturday night’s TNT Super Series event.  This solidified their position atop the 2008 TNT points chase.

July 18-20 was Grand Bend’s IHRA Canadian Nationals.  Friday started off well with 3 qualifying sessions.  Density altitude was decent (~2800’) but the humidity didn’t drop below 75% all weekend – and then Saturday the rains came.  By the time first round came about, it was 6pm Sunday.  Nonetheless, Ted took the win running a 10.918 on the 10.90 index – in spite of his opponent having a better reaction time.  Unfortunately round two (10pm Sunday) saw the end of their weekend.  “I missed the tree and ran a 10.88 trying to catch him & take the stripe,” said Ted.  “And in Hot Rod, that’s just not something you can get away with!”

Their latest event was Aug 8th at DTRP.  An uncharacteristic first round loss in the TNT Super Series left Ted vulnerable in the standings however first and second round losses by the drivers in the number 2 and number 3 spots meant Ted would maintain his position in first place at the end of this day.

“The Datsun has performed well all season.  The experts at Performance Improvements know what it takes make consistent power - and it shows.  There’s a bunch of racing in the next 6 weeks and we’re very excited about it,” said Bill (aka The Official Clapper of the IHRA).

Stop by the pits and say hello at their upcoming races – Friday Sept 5 at Dunn Tire Raceway Park and the double-header weekend Sat/Sun Sept 13-14 at Toronto Motorsports Park!

Both Ted & Bill are quick to mention – none of this would be possible without the continued support from their partners – Performance Improvements Speed Shops (Toronto), Top Quality Transmission (Hamilton), Scott Conrad Racing Engines (Elora), F&M Signs (Stoney Creek), Steel City Spring (Hamilton), Hoosier Tire Canada (St Catharines), Skyway Lawn Equipment (Hamilton).  Keeping things running smooth for the team are Pennzoil-Quaker State, Crane Cams, Wix Filters and Clevite Engine Parts.

Ted Barnes has raced since 1987 and has been proudly running the Performance Improvements banner since 1992.  See Ted & his dad, Bill at various events across southern Ontario and western New York.  Visit www.tedbarnes.com for their complete 2008 schedule and team biographies.  Contact them at ted@tedbarnes.com .