Bark River, Michigan

Bark River has a well deserved reputation of being an unforgiving race track. The 1.5-mile natural terrain circuit offers high speeds, tricky corners, major elevation changes, big air jumps, and a very choppy rhythm section. It’s a track that is known to break parts and test the courage of even the most talented drivers. The racing surface constantly changes too; it can go from loose and loamy to hard packed blue-groove clay in a matter of a few laps. Above all, Bark River is a track that demands respect.

Ricky Johnson started third on the grid in round 7, passing Jeff Kincaid for second on lap three. Ricky ran in second all the way to the mid-race mandatory caution. Following the restart, Johnson pushed hard for the lead and in an effort to run down race leader Jeremy McGrath the number 48 Red Bull Bosch Power Tools F-150 spun in turn one allowing five trucks to pass. Johnson stayed with the spin, looping the Red Bull F-150 back onto the track with minimal time lost. In the closing laps, Johnson regained four of the five positions, finishing third on the podium.

By the time the green flag dropped on the PRO 4X4 race, track conditions made passing extremely difficult. Steve Barlow started third and ran strong in the opening laps holding position and looking for an opening to pass. In the frenzied traffic Barlow was pushed wide into the soft loamy cushion on the outside of the cemetery turn, allowing both Scott Douglas and Mark Jenkins to sneak past. Steve regained the position on Jenkins, but there were virtually no passing opportunities for the remainder of the race. Steve Barlow finished fourth in round 7 just off the podium.

The Barlow Motorsports Red Bull team processed the information from Saturday’s races and made adjustments to the trucks for Sunday. But round 8 was one of those days in racing that even the best preparation and talent can’t overcome. In Pro 2WD, Ricky Johnson was sidelined with a driveline problem that forced the number 48 to coast into the hot pits without power. One race later in PRO 4X4, Steve Barlow’s race came together as planned. On the restart lap after the mandatory yellow, Barlow blasted into third. Steve made another pass into second with three to go only to lose a torque converter that dropped the number 83 Red Bull Bosch Power Tools F-150 to fifth.

Emotions ran high after the Sunday race because everyone on the Barlow Motorsports Red Bull Off-Road race team is passionate about what they do and go into every race anticipating victory. Bark River is in the record books and the BMS team has sights set on the Route 66 Raceway in Chicagoland, IL August 25th and 26th. Rounds 9 and 10 of the 2010 TORC Series will run in conjunction with the NASCAR race at the Super Speedway. This will be a TRAXXAS TORC Series race not to miss.

Barlow Motorsports offers special thanks to Red Bull, Bosch Power Tools, KMC Wheels, Kumho Tires, RoushYates Engines, AMSOIL, Fox Racing Shox, Motive Gear, Fortin Racing, MasterCraft, MSD, McKenzie’s, PWR, Alpinestars, FK Rod Ends, and Justice Brothers for putting together a winning team. Become a fan of Barlow Motorsports on facebook and keep up with the latest news including live updates from the racetrack.