A duel between buddies came down to the final day in the mini-stock class at the PGARA Speedway before the 2013 champion was crowned.
Nathan Linfitt and Devin Barks were separated by only eight points heading into Saturday's final three races and the two friends put on a show for the sparse crowd that came out to watch the final races of the season. Linfitt, the leader when the day started, had already clinched his inaugural points trophy after a second-place finish in the dash and a first-place finish in the heat, but he and Barks put on a show in the main event for the fans.
In the final race of the season, Linfitt started in front of the pack of mini-stock drivers, while Barks was at the back, but it didn't take long before the 18-year-old had made up ground and was running next to Linfitt.
"It was probably one of the funnest races I had all year," said Barks. "One lap it was me leading, the next lap it was him."
It wasn't enough, however, and Linfitt won by a nose.
Barks and Linfitt became friends five years ago when they decided to build a car in order to get their feet wet at PGARA. The sharing arrangement only lasted about three race days before Barks decided to purchase his own car so both of them could get out on the track all the time.
Next season, Barks said he'd like to make a
championship run of his own, but he's also
contemplating moving up into the street stocks.
As for Linfitt, he was just happy to bask in the glory of his first points championship and the fact his best friend finished right behind him in points, 147 and 138, respectively.
"If I would've lost, it wouldn't have hurt as much losing to him," said the 20-year-old. "I'd rather lose to my friends then lose to somebody else."
Breanna Pollard edged out Linfitt in the mini-stock dash Saturday night and finished a distant third for the points championship with 112.
