JEFF TAKES 5TH IN PHOENIX

As all Nascar fans understand, a good car and good driving doesn't necessarily result in a good finish, or even a "finish" at all. Jeff Barkshire and his team have become all too familiar with the role bad luck can play. Last season, running only a partial schedule in the Grand National West Series, he was plagued by flat tires in three of the five races he ran.

Disappointed but not deterred, Jeff and his all volunteer team decided to charge ahead, run a complete schedule this season in the Camping World West Series, and count on, as Jeff put it," shaking this monkey off our back."

Then came '08's first race, and their first flat! After qualifying 6th, he ran in the top five for much of the race until leaving the track with a flat, returning to finish 15th.

Still, it was with high hopes bad luck would be left behind that they headed to Phoenix, so when during the second practice a rod blew out the side of the block, it was hard to believe. It was time to dig deep, and the crew did just that. They changed the blown "new" engine for the more worn engine pulled from the short track car (readied for Texas), in time for qualifying. Though qualifying a strong 9th, due to the engine change he had to start in the back of the 37 car field. He fought his way up through the traffic in his Centennial Battery Dodge Charger all the way to 3rd, but with tires by then used up, he ended the race in 5th.

This 5th place finish puts Jeff at 6th in overall points. The Northwest Tour's Rookie of the Year in 05, Jeff is currently one point behind the leaders in the competition for Camping World West Series' 08 Rookie of the Year.

Next, it's on to the April l9th race in Kyle Texas, with hopes high for an even better finish in the third race of the season.

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