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Article: Barriers no match for Blaney's crew chief.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- March 7, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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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 ...