Add artist, gallery owner to Barrett's growing resume

While most of the NASCAR drivers in New York this week are preoccupied with banquet events, one driver is debuting his hidden talent.

A born shutterbug, Stanton Barrett can now add artist and gallery owner to his increasingly diverse resume and list of achievements.

Most who know the Nationwide Series driver are familiar with his adventurous lifestyle as a Hollywood stuntman, but few know the 36-year-old has an eye for artistic photography.

"My dad bought me a Nikon when I was 9 years old one year for Christmas and I started shooting every day," said Barrett, who earlier this week hosted his grand opening of the Stanton Barrett Gallery in Lower Manhattan.

Carved from an empty loft the driver purchased a few years back, the gallery is home to works by a group of handpicked artists, including Barrett's photography.

His work is centered upon nature and the scenic views he grew up with outside of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. There, his fascination with photography grew and he began to paint and draw as well.

Starting with a 35-millimeter film camera, Barrett said he loved the ability to capture a moment without altering it. He learned the facets of photography and the creative fundamentals by shooting incessantly, working with the tools and mastering the lenses.

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Barrett eventually advanced to digital photography, but refused to use the altering techniques that came along with the new technology. His photos are what he calls "raw."

His process is different than most shooters in that he doesn't make color corrections or Photoshop edits to enhance the pictures he makes. It's a reality that parallels his life as a race car driver: What you see is what you get. His performances on the race track aren't capable of being cropped or touched up for improved views.

And like his career as an artist, his career as a driver is still developing despite his more than 18 years of experience.

Originally an independent single-car team owner in the Nationwide Series, Barrett has now decided to step away from ownership and drive for Rick Ware Racing in 2009 for 19 races. More than that, Barrett has also signed on for a full season of IndyCar Series racing next year with CURB Agajanian 3G Racing. Reversing NASCAR's open-wheel invasion, Barrett will be a rookie and has yet to test an IndyCar.

"The decision was tough," said Barrett, who is the godson of the late Paul Newman. "I was nervous to give up my own team but I'm still going to do NASCAR and I love the IndyCars. I've always been a spectator with my dad and Paul and Chip Ganassi but never got the chance to drive one. I'm confident I'm with the right organization to make this a success."

Meanwhile, Barrett is realizing just how much knowledge he has acquired competing in the NASCAR arena.

"You don't realize how much you know about a sport until you try to go compete in something else you know nothing about," Barrett laughed.

But new challenges in Barrett's world are as frequent as the clicks snapped from his camera.

Life is never boring for NASCAR's resident stuntman, artist, actor and soon-to-be open-wheel driver.

"I've been called a renaissance man," he said. "But really I just like to live life to the fullest and live with passion."

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.