Being the crew chief on the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series is a tough and daunting task. There is a great variance in the types of tracks the Tour heads to. With the Inaugural Irwindale Speedway event fast approaching, it has some crew chiefs scratching their heads.

But Darrell LaMoure's crew chief, Vince Barnes is not nervous at all. As a matter of fact, he can't wait to get the car on the track putting on a show for the fans. The team tested and Barnes admits that they learned a lot at the test that will definitely carry over to the race.

Team: Racing for the Missing Desert Thunder Motorsports
Car #: 17
Driver: Darrell "DL" LaMoure
Owner: Roger & Joanne LaMoure
Name/Position of person completing this form: Vince Barnes: Crew Chief

RacingWest: What are your impressions of the facility by either seeing it or hearing about it?
Vince Barnes: Bitchin, with the exception to PIR, Sears Point and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Irwindale is top shelf and comparable to none.

RW: What do you expect from the fans at Irwindale Speedway? Will they know the SWS drivers or not?
VB: Probably not many the first event but soon they will come to know the best in the West, there aren't any other divisions which display this kind racing off the Television.

RW: How has your team prepared for this new track?
VB: Better than 80 % of the competition, we had a good test on one of those open test nights. Green track and we were fast.

RW: Being that Irwindale is new and smooth and shocks play a big part in the balance of the cars, what will your plans be for shock combinations soft, stiff? Will you start with a set up from another track that has similarities?
VB: I find that Irwindale is very similar to Tucson Raceway Park, most likely will do about the same kind of set up to start with then adjust to my drivers likening. Shocks play a big part in dialing in the car and making the driver more comfortable from practice to the race sometimes all four get changed, will see how Darrell feels?

RW: Did you have time to take advantage to utilize the test days at the new track and what did you think?
VB: Yes, and we feel strongly that we have advantages, but this doesn't mean too much in the Series. You could be the slowest in practice and be the quickest during the race. As for qualifying, I don't drive so we sit and wait to hear how the driver did via the clocks.

RW: What changes do you regularly make between practice, qualifying and the race? Will this new track be any different?
VB: Our team has played with different concepts and I have noticed that each driver has different ways of communicating how the car feels. Most of the time we change spring rates and shock packages between practice and the race. What changes we make are strictly confidential, as you can imagine. Not that we are the fastest every week but they are our secrets.

RW: Rumor has it there are 3 groves and typically to win you must start up front, can any car win from the back with three groves?
VB: Absolutely, with my driver he can come from dead last and put together a good finish. This track will probably have the most lead changes in history of the tour because of the facility and its multi grove surface.

RW: Does it work better for your team to race in LA as opposed to other destinations on the SWS?
VB: For our program "Racing for the Missing" we don't care what or where as long as we can get the message out! I live close to LA so that saves on the expenses of the program.

RW: Will your team be doing any special promotions for sponsors during this weekend?
VB: I haven't been too heavily involved with this side of the racing, but I'm sure we will have something cooking for the Public Awareness Campaign we are racing for. I feel privileged to be part of DTM and the racing effort, it's a lost and forgotten or not practiced good deed, LaMoure doesn't look the other way ever!

RW: Where can the fans find you for autographs? (Which hotel are you staying at, with room number?)

VB: At the track post race is all I'm aware of. I really like this part of the racing, when the families and fans can interact with the teams after the show.

RW: How has your team progressed this year? Are you on track with your goals?
VB: I set simple goals such as; create a working team philosophy, fun atmosphere, safety first and to put a competitive car on the track every race. So far we are happy with where we are, I think everybody is waiting for that first win but reality is to be a winner you don't have to win.

RW: What do you see as most challenging about Irwindale Speedway?
VB: Making a good impression on LA fans (my backyard) We would like to continue to race at facility's like Irwindale because its first class. You see we are not racing for a championship, we are racing for a cause, kids and their families. Hopefully, we will reach out to those who haven't taken the issue of Missing Persons seriously. [for more information on "Racing for the Missing" please visit More from Lamoure on Darrell   LaMoure's site.]

Source: RacingWest
Posted: 5/12/99