Post by bartonfan on Nov 2, 2014 17:57:49 GMT -5
As soon as Dick Barton reached victory lane after pulling off a storybook triumph on Sept. 20 in the 40-lap United Late Model Series Julien Buesink Memorial at Stateline Speedway in Busti, N.Y. — a $4,000 score that was his record 80th career win at his long-time home track — he had the inclination to announce his retirement. | DirtWire
“The thought was lingering in the back of my mind,” admitted Barton, fully aware that walking away in triumphant fashion would put a spectacular cap on his successful 42-year run behind the wheel of a race car.
Barton, 60, of Ashville, N.Y., initially tabled the idea, but some reflection during a few weeks away from competition led him to the conclusion that the time was right to walk away. Before the Oct. 10-11 ULMS Fall Classic at McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, Pa., he pulled aside his car owners, John and Charlie Lacki of Sinclairville, N.Y., and revealed his decision to retire after the weekend’s action.
The news didn’t exactly take the Lacki brothers by surprise.
According to Barton, “when I told them I was retiring — and it was only fair that I let them know what my plans were so that they could make plans for whatever they wanted do — one of them said, ‘We were actually kind of wondering if you would even come down here to Smethport and race (after winning so dramatically at Stateline).’ ”
The comment made Barton laugh. But while he agreed that simply leaving the driver’s seat after his Stateline celebration would have been a perfect ending — the moment was documented last month in this Inside Dirt Late Model Racing column — McKean County was the last race on his 2014 schedule and, by gosh, he was going to run it.
“When I made a commitment to run for (the Lacki team) at the beginning of the year, that included the entire year,” said Barton, who recorded finishes of 11th (Friday) and seventh (Saturday) at MCR. “If I’m nothing else, I’m a man of my word, and I did fulfill my commitment.”
That’s Barton — always classy, always thoughtful. He was never a guy who hopped from ride-to-ride — he spent an amazing 17 years (1993-2009) driving for Ron Nielson, whose equipment carried him to 172 of his 229 career Super Late Model triumphs — so he obviously had a knack for treating car owners right.
Considering Barton’s nature, it only makes sense that his retirement isn’t something he’s taken lightly. If he’s come forward with his decision, you can count on him sticking to it. There will be no waffling from Barton. He’s ready for life without stomping on the gas of a Dirt Late Model.
“To be perfectly honest, the last couple of years, when spring came around, I thought to myself, ‘Man, you’ve got to get yourself mentally ready for the season,’” Barton said. “It was difficult, where in the earlier years I was mentally ready in December.”
Barton admits there are times he’s gotten emotional about his decision, times he’s wondered if he’ll ever be able to replace the thrill of winning a feature. But he’s remarkably clear-minded about his reasons for retirement.
“Here’s the thing,” Barton said. “I graduated from high school in 1972. I started racing in 1973. So I’ve never had a summer that I could do absolutely anything I wanted to do, whenever I wanted to do it.
“If we went of a family vacation during the summer (with his wife, Joan, and children Aaron and Andrea, who are now grown and live out of state), this is what would happen when I was racing three nights a week: Sunday night, after racing, we would have the car all loaded up and we’d jump in there with the family, I’d drive all night to wherever we were going, and then we’d vacation … but come Friday morning, we’d have to get back in the car because I had to be back to go racing on Friday night.
“Our entire, whole lifestyle was based around racing, and so, right now … this is a new world for me. I’ve never lived on this side of the railroad tracks, with everything not revolving around racing, but I’m completely comfortable and confident in my decision.”
Barton paused: “And don’t make it sound like I begrudge racing (for all the time it took up), because no one held a gun to my head to do it for all these years. I enjoyed every minute of it.”
Actually, Barton considers himself a fan of racing as much as a champion driver. He is not one of those drivers who disappear from the motorsports scene after retirement because he can’t bear to be around the action if he’s not competing.
“Maybe this is funny for people to understand and appreciate, but it really doesn’t bother me to go watch a race,” said Barton, who put up his impressive career statistics while never racing for a living (he’s a long-time outside sales rep for NAPA Auto Parts). “I love watching races. I genuinely don’t have a problem with going and watching races at all.
“I will still be there at the races. I enjoy watching the races too much. I get a kick out of seeing them — in fact, I think it will be a lot of fun going to races without having any pressure.”
Barton noted that he already is thinking about attending some of the crown jewel Dirt Late Model events across the nation that he never had a chance to experience while concentrating on the mostly local and regional schedule he maintained throughout his career.
“The Knoxville (Late Model) Nationals is on my bucket list,” said Barton, who is “semi-retired” at NAPA, working three days a week. “The Dream, the World 100, the Show-Me (100) — all these races that I’ve wanted to see but couldn’t get to, now I can go see them. Matter of fact, I was talking to a couple of my buddies, and we’re taking a strong look at buying a motorhome and hitting the road to see some races.
“I’m going to enjoy myself,” he concluded. “Racing’s been good to me all these years and I’ll miss driving, but now I’m going to go to some races, sit on the other side of the fence, drink some beers and have fun watching.”
“The thought was lingering in the back of my mind,” admitted Barton, fully aware that walking away in triumphant fashion would put a spectacular cap on his successful 42-year run behind the wheel of a race car.
Barton, 60, of Ashville, N.Y., initially tabled the idea, but some reflection during a few weeks away from competition led him to the conclusion that the time was right to walk away. Before the Oct. 10-11 ULMS Fall Classic at McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, Pa., he pulled aside his car owners, John and Charlie Lacki of Sinclairville, N.Y., and revealed his decision to retire after the weekend’s action.
The news didn’t exactly take the Lacki brothers by surprise.
According to Barton, “when I told them I was retiring — and it was only fair that I let them know what my plans were so that they could make plans for whatever they wanted do — one of them said, ‘We were actually kind of wondering if you would even come down here to Smethport and race (after winning so dramatically at Stateline).’ ”
The comment made Barton laugh. But while he agreed that simply leaving the driver’s seat after his Stateline celebration would have been a perfect ending — the moment was documented last month in this Inside Dirt Late Model Racing column — McKean County was the last race on his 2014 schedule and, by gosh, he was going to run it.
“When I made a commitment to run for (the Lacki team) at the beginning of the year, that included the entire year,” said Barton, who recorded finishes of 11th (Friday) and seventh (Saturday) at MCR. “If I’m nothing else, I’m a man of my word, and I did fulfill my commitment.”
That’s Barton — always classy, always thoughtful. He was never a guy who hopped from ride-to-ride — he spent an amazing 17 years (1993-2009) driving for Ron Nielson, whose equipment carried him to 172 of his 229 career Super Late Model triumphs — so he obviously had a knack for treating car owners right.
Considering Barton’s nature, it only makes sense that his retirement isn’t something he’s taken lightly. If he’s come forward with his decision, you can count on him sticking to it. There will be no waffling from Barton. He’s ready for life without stomping on the gas of a Dirt Late Model.
“To be perfectly honest, the last couple of years, when spring came around, I thought to myself, ‘Man, you’ve got to get yourself mentally ready for the season,’” Barton said. “It was difficult, where in the earlier years I was mentally ready in December.”
Barton admits there are times he’s gotten emotional about his decision, times he’s wondered if he’ll ever be able to replace the thrill of winning a feature. But he’s remarkably clear-minded about his reasons for retirement.
“Here’s the thing,” Barton said. “I graduated from high school in 1972. I started racing in 1973. So I’ve never had a summer that I could do absolutely anything I wanted to do, whenever I wanted to do it.
“If we went of a family vacation during the summer (with his wife, Joan, and children Aaron and Andrea, who are now grown and live out of state), this is what would happen when I was racing three nights a week: Sunday night, after racing, we would have the car all loaded up and we’d jump in there with the family, I’d drive all night to wherever we were going, and then we’d vacation … but come Friday morning, we’d have to get back in the car because I had to be back to go racing on Friday night.
“Our entire, whole lifestyle was based around racing, and so, right now … this is a new world for me. I’ve never lived on this side of the railroad tracks, with everything not revolving around racing, but I’m completely comfortable and confident in my decision.”
Barton paused: “And don’t make it sound like I begrudge racing (for all the time it took up), because no one held a gun to my head to do it for all these years. I enjoyed every minute of it.”
Actually, Barton considers himself a fan of racing as much as a champion driver. He is not one of those drivers who disappear from the motorsports scene after retirement because he can’t bear to be around the action if he’s not competing.
“Maybe this is funny for people to understand and appreciate, but it really doesn’t bother me to go watch a race,” said Barton, who put up his impressive career statistics while never racing for a living (he’s a long-time outside sales rep for NAPA Auto Parts). “I love watching races. I genuinely don’t have a problem with going and watching races at all.
“I will still be there at the races. I enjoy watching the races too much. I get a kick out of seeing them — in fact, I think it will be a lot of fun going to races without having any pressure.”
Barton noted that he already is thinking about attending some of the crown jewel Dirt Late Model events across the nation that he never had a chance to experience while concentrating on the mostly local and regional schedule he maintained throughout his career.
“The Knoxville (Late Model) Nationals is on my bucket list,” said Barton, who is “semi-retired” at NAPA, working three days a week. “The Dream, the World 100, the Show-Me (100) — all these races that I’ve wanted to see but couldn’t get to, now I can go see them. Matter of fact, I was talking to a couple of my buddies, and we’re taking a strong look at buying a motorhome and hitting the road to see some races.
“I’m going to enjoy myself,” he concluded. “Racing’s been good to me all these years and I’ll miss driving, but now I’m going to go to some races, sit on the other side of the fence, drink some beers and have fun watching.”
