On Daytona 500: 'We fully intend to race our way in. '

By Raygan Swan, NASCAR.COM
January 16, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- In six attempts, Stanton Barrett has never made the Great American Race, the Daytona 500.

But who cares, right?

Barrett, 35, has been a stuntman in all three Spider-Man movies, is the godson of Paul Newman and has a guest appearance on the popular FX show Nip Tuck.

Sitting near the bottom of the speed chart during Tuesday's test session at Daytona International Speedway, Barrett cares immensely.

In NASCAR off and on since 1992, Barrett would trade all the glitterati and Hollywood notoriety to successfully race his way into the 50th annual running of the Daytona 500, a feat that would prove to critics that a driver operating on a bare-bones budget can still find success in NASCAR, despite its money-driven mentality.

"I don't look at how much money I don't have, but how to make the most with what I do have," said Barrett from inside his hauler parked well beyond the long line of bright and shiny trucks donning the faces of NASCAR's poster boys -- the drivers who are testing multiple cars this week while Barrett is merely trying to perfect one, the No. 50A Chevrolet.

Mike Fine, brand director for NOS Energy Drink, and Chris Lencheski, owner of SKI Motorsports, are marketing in NASCAR with the idea that a smaller team -- powered by Richard Childress Racing engines -- can get as much bang for its buck as some of the mega-dollar sponsors in the same product category. (More)

SKI Motorsports and NOS Energy Drink will attempt to qualify for four of the biggest races of the Sprint Cup season, beginning with the Daytona 500 and ending with the Sharpie 500 at Bristol in August.

A majority of Barrett's time during Preseason Thunder is spent on qualifying runs and tweaking the car for more speed; he is in the pool of go-or-go-home drivers fighting for one of the seven spots available for the race.

"From a time trial standpoint we are getting setups together and coming up with combinations," Barrett said. "We fully intend to race our way in. I have 18 years of drafting experience and I know what we've done in the past and what has kept us from making the 500. We come here to race and represent our sponsors. We are a small organization but we are serious and will run up front; not just around."

Laps times in Tuesday morning's session were about a second off the pace; Barrett's speed: 182.153 mph. The top speed posted, by Dale Earnhardt Jr., was 185. 820 mph.

However, Barrett's times are improving. The first day his fastest lap was 180.278 mph.

"We missed this race too many times," he said. "And five out of six I've missed it by one spot. Two years ago we were running seventh and had a tire blister. Last year, had a terrible pit stop. The track really eludes me, but ever since I worked for Richard Childress at his shop, I dedicated my time to watching Dale [Earnhardt] Sr. I really paid attention to the draft and listened to him."

Barrett has found success in the sport, not in victories, but in strides. The only problem is most around the garage know him for his talent falling from buildings and ramping cars.

He is referred to as the stuntman and Hollywood actor who races NASCAR, but he'd prefer to be the NASCAR driver who moonlights as a stuntman and periodically appears on television.

"It's kind of funny, that's what people look at," he said. "They think I'm here for a hobby, but I don't know who in their right mind risks their life and millions of dollars if they aren't serious about racing."

That said, Barrett's handle on Hollywood has kept his NASCAR presence afloat. He said Hollywood and NASCAR go hand in hand, because the relationships he's made stunting and acting have created sponsorship opportunities and brought him national exposure.

"At some point we are going to put all the pieces together," he said.

Meanwhile, Barrett's bread and butter are stunting and small roles on network shows such as Cold Case, CSI-NY and most recently Nip Tuck.

On Nip Tuck, the NASCAR driver, playing a paparazzo, has a run-in with plastic surgeon Christian Troy.

And last season, Barrett guest stared on America's Next Top Model where he guided the girls on an action-packed shoot and talked about life as a driver and team owner.

But to prove his priority is racing, last year Barrett shot an acting role for Justice, a legal drama on FOX. Certain circumstances arose and the crew needed to re-shoot, but Barrett was not available.

"I said don't hire me if you are going to change the dates, I have a car race," he said. "They called me, changed dates, and I got killed."

But he'll always have Spider-Man 3. Look for him, he's flying through the air and crashes into the subway when the evil villain, the Sandman, tornadoes through the city of New York.

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Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
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