Doug Barnes will compete in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour race on Saturday night at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
Barnes had been suspended by CARS Tour for ‘flagrant rough driving,’ ‘retaliation’ and ‘intentional contact with another competitor’ due to a series of escalating on-track incidents with Mini Tyrrell. For his part, Tyrrell, a series part-timer who races full-time in the Truck Series for Kaulig RAM Racing, was placed on probation.
Instead of a suspension that will cost him a race, a three-person independent industry panel has suspended him through Friday night, meaning his No. 88 team cannot participate in the open test on Thursday or the practice day on Friday.
However, Barnes can practice on Saturday, qualifying and race in the debut event in Music City USA. He remains on probation through the remainder of the season.
“I really appreciate the CARS Tour taking time to set up a fair process that allowed me to talk about my side of the story,” Barnes Jr. said in a statement to Short Track Scene. “Thank you to the committee for taking time out of their day to hear me out. I’m glad that the appeal committee ruled in my favor and is allowing my team and I to continue to compete for a CARS Tour title. I’m excited to for the upcoming challenge.”
The panel included longtime NASCAR Cup Series race director David Hoots, Team Penske team manager Jefferson Hodges, former ASA STARS technical director Freddie Query and Wilson Motorsports general manager Bond Suss.
Matt Weaver is the owner and founder of Short Track Scene. Weaver grew up in the sport, having raced himself before becoming a reporter in college at the University of South Alabama. He also has extensive experience covering NASCAR, IndyCar and Dirt Sprint Cars.
