Article: Barriers no match for Blaney's crew chief.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Scott Fowler

MOORESVILLE, N.C. _ As crew chief for a NASCAR Winston Cup team, Robert "Bootie" Barker has a simple job description.

Make the car go fast.

Speed is what consumes Barker _ a driven, self-deprecating man who set a goal seven years ago to become a Cup crew chief by age 30.

He nearly made it. At 32, he is a rookie crew chief for the No.77 Ford of Dave Blaney.

Crew chiefs are basically head coaches. Barker's relative youth makes him unusual in a job often held by men 10 or 15 years older. But Barker's other set of wheels _ the ones attached to his wheelchair _ also stamps him as unique.

Barker has ...

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