Ron Barfield
Encyclopedia
Ron Barfield is a former NASCAR
driver. He raced in all of the major NASCAR series: Winston Cup, Busch Series
, and Craftsman Truck Series
, but did not win a race. He is a former protege of Bill Elliott
.
s. In 1987, he won the World Karting Association
's National Dirt Series Championship. Two years later, he switched to stock car racing and won nine races in a Late Model at Myrtle Beach Speedway
. He would win the track championship at Myrtle Beach in 1991, collecting a total of 46 feature wins. In 1994, he was named the Texas Pete All-Pro Series Rookie of the Year, finishing fourth in points.
, where he won two races and had sixteen top-ten starts in twenty-one starts. The next season, he began racing in the major NASCAR series. He made his debut in the Truck Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway, driving the #94 for Super 8 Motel Ford F-150 for Elliott, starting third and finishing fourth. He ran six more races in the trucks that season and had two additional top-ten finishes. He also ran six races in the Busch Series for Elliott's New Holland
team, where his best finish was 11th. In addition, Barfield attempted the Brickyard 400 in the Cup series, but failed to qualify. He took home a victory at Michigan International Speedway
in an Auto Racing Club of America as well.
Barfield returned to the trucks for another part-time run in 1997, finishing eighth at Walt Disney World Speedway
. He also attempted to run in the Busch Series full-time with Elliott's team, and posted two ninth-place runs, but his schedule was eventually cut back. He ran two more truck races for Gloy Racing, before rounding out the schedule in a team owned by Elliott's partner, Charles Hardy
. He also attempted again at Indianapolis in the Cup series, where he finished 23rd.
In 1998, Barfield went full-time with the Hardy team, with sponsorship from Ortho Lawn & Garden. He had top-tens and finished 9th in points. He also ran a pair of races in the #2 for Craven, his best finish a 21st at Bristol.
, finishing 22nd in a truck owned by Team 23 Racing. After not racing in 2002, Barfield made seven Busch starts in 2003, the first five in a car owned by Stanton Barrett
. After running two more races in the #73 car, Barfield disappeared from the NASCAR circuit. He now runs a racing shop in Timmonsville, SC
and Dillon Motor Speedway, a new 4/10 mile asphalt race track in Dillon, SC
.http://www.dillonmotorspeedway.com/
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver. He raced in all of the major NASCAR series: Winston Cup, Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
, and Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
, but did not win a race. He is a former protege of Bill Elliott
Bill Elliott
William Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup...
.
Beginnings
Barfield began racing at the age of six in go-kartGo-kart
thumb|A [[Kart racing|racing kart]] at the [[Commission Internationale de Karting|CIK-FIA]] European Championship 2008A go-kart is a small four-wheeled vehicle...
s. In 1987, he won the World Karting Association
World Karting Association
The World Karting Association, or WKA, is the largest sanctioning body for kart racing racing in North America. The WKA was founded in 1971 and is located directly behind Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. The WKA is believed to currently have approximately 5,000 members...
's National Dirt Series Championship. Two years later, he switched to stock car racing and won nine races in a Late Model at Myrtle Beach Speedway
Myrtle Beach Speedway
The Myrtle Beach Speedway, originally named Rambi Raceway, was built in 1958 and is located on U.S. Route 501 near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.The speedway is a semi-banked asphaltic oval track that spans...
. He would win the track championship at Myrtle Beach in 1991, collecting a total of 46 feature wins. In 1994, he was named the Texas Pete All-Pro Series Rookie of the Year, finishing fourth in points.
Early NASCAR
In 1995, he moved to the Slim Jim All Pro SeriesNASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series
The NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series was a NASCAR-sanctioned amateur/semi-pro racing series based in the Southeastern United States. The series was formerly known as the Slim Jim All Pro Series. The drivers who have graduated from this series include Shawna Robinson, Rick Crawford,...
, where he won two races and had sixteen top-ten starts in twenty-one starts. The next season, he began racing in the major NASCAR series. He made his debut in the Truck Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway, driving the #94 for Super 8 Motel Ford F-150 for Elliott, starting third and finishing fourth. He ran six more races in the trucks that season and had two additional top-ten finishes. He also ran six races in the Busch Series for Elliott's New Holland
CNH Global
CNH Global N.V. is a global, full line company operating in both the agricultural and construction equipment industries. CNH's scope includes integrated engineering, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of equipment on five continents...
team, where his best finish was 11th. In addition, Barfield attempted the Brickyard 400 in the Cup series, but failed to qualify. He took home a victory at Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
in an Auto Racing Club of America as well.
Barfield returned to the trucks for another part-time run in 1997, finishing eighth at Walt Disney World Speedway
Walt Disney World Speedway
Walt Disney World Speedway is a racing facility located on the grounds of the Walt Disney World resort near Orlando, Florida.It was built in 1995 by IMS Events, Inc., a subsidiary of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation, and was designed primarily as a venue for the Indy 200 at Walt Disney...
. He also attempted to run in the Busch Series full-time with Elliott's team, and posted two ninth-place runs, but his schedule was eventually cut back. He ran two more truck races for Gloy Racing, before rounding out the schedule in a team owned by Elliott's partner, Charles Hardy
Charles Hardy
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Hardy was a Royal Navy officer and colonial governor of New York.-Early career:Born at Portsmouth, the son of a vice admiral, Charles Hardy joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1731....
. He also attempted again at Indianapolis in the Cup series, where he finished 23rd.
In 1998, Barfield went full-time with the Hardy team, with sponsorship from Ortho Lawn & Garden. He had top-tens and finished 9th in points. He also ran a pair of races in the #2 for Craven, his best finish a 21st at Bristol.
Final years
Despite the success of 1998, Hardy's team closed its doors, and Barfield return to Gloy to pilot the #55 Icehouse Beer Ford. He had two top-tens but was released late in the year, and finished the season driving for Rick McCray. He started 2000 driving for his own team, but ran four more races, his worst finish a 27th. He made his final truck start the following year at Darlington RacewayDarlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
, finishing 22nd in a truck owned by Team 23 Racing. After not racing in 2002, Barfield made seven Busch starts in 2003, the first five in a car owned by Stanton Barrett
Stanton Barrett
Stanton Thomas Barrett is a NASCAR driver and Hollywood stuntman. He has driven in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series, as well in the IZOD IndyCar Series.-NASCAR:...
. After running two more races in the #73 car, Barfield disappeared from the NASCAR circuit. He now runs a racing shop in Timmonsville, SC
Timmonsville, South Carolina
Timmonsville is a town in Florence County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,315 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Timmonsville is located at ....
and Dillon Motor Speedway, a new 4/10 mile asphalt race track in Dillon, SC
Dillon, South Carolina
Dillon, South Carolina, the county seat of Dillon County, was established on December 22, 1888. The name of the city came from James W. Dillon, who was a key component in bringing a railroad through this area of the state, which led to development and formation of the County. Dillon’s population...
.http://www.dillonmotorspeedway.com/