Tech Q&A: Robert Barker

FONTANA, Calif. -- Gateway International Raceway presents a myriad of challenges for Busch Series crew chiefs.

This weekend marks the annual stop for the Busch cars at the 1.25 oval just outside St. Louis. They used to race there under the lights in July, but even at 9 p.m., the heat was unbearable.

Mercifully, NASCAR moved Gateway's date to a more favorable one in May. Even with better weather to work with, crew chiefs have a tough job dealing with a track that has two very different turns.

The place is fairly flat -- it was only 11 degrees in Turns 1 and 2, only nine degrees of banking in Turns 3 and 4 -- making it drive more like a short track in the corners.

NASCAR.COM's Ryan Smithson spoke with Robert "Bootie" Barker, currently enjoying a career renaissance of sorts with Haas CNC Racing's Jason Leffler.

After a disappointing debut in the Cup Series working with Dave Blaney, Barker has helped turned Leffler into one of the top qualifiers in the Busch Series (7.7 averaging starting spot).

The two scored their first Bud Pole together when Leffler took the top spot for last weekend's Stater Brothers 300 at Fontana.

What kind of car are you going to bring to Gateway?

Jason Leffler  Driver Page  2004 Stats

We actually have two short track cars, specifically built for short tracks. One of which we are bringing it to Gateway.

Is it a Richmond car?

I'll be using one identical to it. For all the short tracks, the frame rail is a little different, a few more things like that, a lighter weight.

Is Jason going to shift gears at Gateway?

We have the ability to do it or not to do it, either way. Depends on your motor package, whether you can turn a lot of RPMs or not. It varies from team to team.

Why did you decide to test at Gateway?

ALSO  Track Page: Gateway

It's our first short track race of the year. I felt like that if I had a setup from there that worked pretty well, I could probably use it at Nazareth. Some of it for Richmond, New Hampshire, all those tracks will benefit from it.

You have really turned your season around since Bristol.

We haven't been getting wrecked. Being involved in some junk. We've had speed all year, but we've been finishing races. At the beginning of the year, some thing would happen to it.

How big an adjustment it been to return to the Busch Series after a year in Nextel Cup?

It's all the same. Regardless whether you are in the Cup or the Busch series, we have a great team and a lot of resources. Whatever we need to go racing. It makes it a lot easier.

How do you approach Gateway? What is your job as far as setting the car up?

2004 Busch Series  Drivers  Crew Chiefs  Schedule  Driver Standings  Manufacturer Standings  Rookie Standings  Race Review  Best 25: Last 6 races  2004 Best Starts  2004 Best Finishes

Really, the main thing is making sure it'll turn. In simply terms, making sure it will turn in the middle without being super-loose off.

Also, as far as Gateway, making sure you have the right gear-transmission package is really important as well. It's not just a handling issue, it's getting all those things to mesh. So gateway presents a few problems that other tracks don't.

Does the car have to be right down on the line in the corners?

No, not necessarily. A lot of times I have it too loose and the driver will run it up and move up a groove. And they will still run well. You don't have to, but naturally, you run the bottom, you're better off.

It is tough to get the car to work well in both corners?

Yes. Two different corners. There's no way you're going to have both of them the way you want them.

That is where your driver comes in. he may have one corner that he wants perfect and he just lives with the other one. You reach a happy medium on both.

This place is pretty vital as far as qualifying.

Yes, it is. Gateway will be unusual in that it will be the first race of the year where we don't get to put in a qualifying setup. You have to race what you qualify. It will be interesting.

You have got to be glad you don't have to race at Gateway in July anymore.

Well, I will tell you, it was hot. It's a hot, miserable place. I was in Topeka the same time in the Truck Series one year and I thought I was going to die there, too.

Tech Q&A runs every Tuesday on NASCAR.COM.