Michael Barnes

First driver ever to turn a lap under the 16 second lap time in a non-winged Super.

• DOB:02/04/84
• Division / Car:Super #68
• Hometown:Mexico, NY
• Career Highlights:7 Career wins at Oswego Speedway
• Years in Racing:7 Years in Supers

Mexico, NY native Michael Barnes started racing Quarter Midgets at the very early age of 6 years old. While racing as a young man, he earned more than 60 feature wins in Quarter Midgets and he eventually became the “Heavy B” Track Champion for the Syracuse Quarter Midget Club. At sixteen he moved up to more challenging cars and started racing 600cc Micro Sprints. Here, his talent continued to flourish and he then quickly scored his first major win at the track where he eventually would call home, the infamous Oswego Speedway in 2002.

 

In 2003, he again moved up as his talent behind the wheel kept getting stronger and stronger and began racing in the Limited Supermodified division now known as Small Block Supers or SBS. There he quickly earned three SBS feature wins at Oswego including the coveted Mr. Small Block Supermodified title in 2005. It was at this point the Oswego Speedway fans knew Michael Barnes was an upcoming talent and that he was a force to be reckoned with. In both 2005 and 2006 Michael won back to back Championships in the traveling SBS series known as the “NORA” series. These titles include two Feature wins at Spencer Speedway as well.

 

However, it wasnt until Labor Day weekend 2005 at the Oswego Speedways final race of the season that Michaels racing dream became a reality. This is where he finally scored his first ride in a Supermodified in the “Crown Jewel” of all Supermodified races, the International Classic. This race is known among the very best in all of motorsports and each year attracts such elite drivers as Indy 500 veterans Davey Hamilton and Joe Gosek. This race has even declared former Indy 500 winner Gordon Johncock Victor.

 

That weekend was the weekend when Michael successfully fielded a car among these elite drivers in his very first attempt to do so. This is the race where all the Supermodified best drivers realized there was a new kid in town.

 

In 2006 after only his 4th start in these exotic and sleek 800+ horse power open wheel rockets( known as the Supermodified), Michael scored his very first feature win. That is the fewest amount of starts for any rookie driver to ever win a feature event at the Oswego Speedway in a Supermodified.
Continuing on in a winning fashion Michael scored two more Supermodified feature wins and was runner up in the championship points series chase in 2007 which was only his second year in the class.

 

From 2008 – 2011 Michael decided to once again try something new and venture out into other divisions such as the International Supermodified Racing Association or ISMA and the Midwest Supermodified Association or MSA in the (winged) Supermodifieds series. Throughout these years Michael continued to gain experience while promoting himself and getting more exposure for sponsors by racing in these traveling circuits. During that time he also continued to run part time here locally at Oswego Speedway in a non-wing Supermodified all the while still racing in the Nema Midget series as well and scoring many solid finishes in all the above.

 

From 2012 – 2014 Michaels opportunities led him back to racing non-wing Supers where he scored many more feature wins including back to back wins this past year at Oswego Speedway.

 

Michael Barnes has proven to become one of the top elite drivers in the Super division today. To his thousands of fans he has become so affectionately known as “the Hustler” for his unique way of storming through the field on his way to the front to take the lead.

 

“The Hustler”, a nickname he most definitely earned by thrilling all in attendance now has a total of seven Feature wins and 25 top 5 Super finishes at Oswego, an unprecedented amount for such a short career.

 

Note, not only did Michael win back to back features in 2014 but did so in such a fashion that only the “Hustler” could. He did so by wowing the crowd coming through the field from the farthest back handicap spot, then taking the lead with a breathtaking 3-wide pass going into the last turn. That race is now arguably considered one of the most exciting races at Oswego Speedway in recent years. Later that same year, Michael also shocked the fans by becoming the very first driver to ever brake under the 16 second lap barrier in time trials Classic weekend.

 

His on-track record speaks for itself, but off the track, Michael is by far the fan favorite. His easy smile and friendly disposition earned him the Turning Stone Resort and Casino’s “most popular driver” award in 2014 as well.
Michael is one of the most charismatic drivers in all of racing today. He is a humble, friendly, well-spoken individual who always finds time for his fans and is very loyal and dedicated to his team and sponsors.

 

Michaels character, talent, charm and good looks make him the perfect ambassador for the sport !