“I had an awfully good year last year,” said Barfield. “Things just went our way. We attended 21 races on the circuit and won 10 of them. I runner-upped at 2 or 3, I can’t remember exactly how many, and was No. 1 qualifier at 14 races.  My old car was really running well and set the world eighth-mile record with a 4.61, 154, but it really wasn’t as safe as I liked it. Besides I had been working on this one for the past three years and was anxious to get it broken in and running.”

Barfield’s Camaro is definitely a loaded gun. Dave Sheppard Race Cars built the standard stock-wheelbased chassis, and Jason Mote Motorsports did a lot the fabrication and wiring on the 3,080-pounder. The power comes from one of the most popular engine builders in the South, Spartanburg, South Carolina’s Gene Fulton, packaged in a 762-cid big block with a four-stage nitrous system. Other major factors in the car’s genesis are Barfield’s crew chief and business partner Randy Conners (The “C” in B&C Powerhouse Engines and Converters), Year One, and Race Coaches, who built Barfield’s toter and trailer.

“The whole thing cost a pretty penny; the chassis and all related parts came up to near $150,000,” he explained. “However, it was worth every one of those pennies. I’m no different than any of the other racers in these classes, I want to win and so I put together the best pieces I can. That’s been my approach throughout my career.”

So far, it’s been a good career for the father of five kids. He began his career 10 years ago by bracket racing at southern Georgia tracks, especially Savannah Dragstrip. He didn’t like the handicapped style, so he moved up to the heads-up classes and in 1996 won Savannah’s Fastest Car Shootout. He did so well at Savannah that a number of competitors went elsewhere rather than face Barfield’s machines and that forced some geographical changes. By roughly 1997, Barfield had to tour the south, running at drag strips in Alabama, Florida, and the Carolinas.

“We’ve done our share of winning,” he concluded. “Like with everyone else, some weekends are better than others.  Last year, that OSCRA title really jacked us all up. We’re out of the points lead this season, but if we get a few breaks, I think we can chase down Robbins. I really like that No. 1 on the side of our car.”