RPW Column: Alan Barker / Steve Klinger Branching Out During The 2020 Season

RPW Column By: BRAD KEITSOCK / RPW – NORWICH, NY – As the saying goes, “times are a changing.”

And that saying is partially true for 37-year-old Norwich NY racer Alan Barker and Berwick Pa’s car owner Steve Klinger for the 2020 racing season.

Barker and Klinger will continue their weekly assault on the southern tier of NY modified dirt tracks once the racing season kicks into high gear next spring.

But you can also look for something a little different for this combination heading into the new racing season.

Klinger confirms a spec small block motor is being built by Powerhouse Performance Engines out of Norwich NY to be put in the new Hig Fab chassis Barker Racing #B16 racing machine.

Look for Barker to make his first modified starts ever at the Big Diamond Speedway once gates swing open Friday night April 10th for the season opener.

Klinger added, “We are putting the spec small block together to get Alan out and to race different tracks. The spec motor deal for us this year is going to be a specials only type schedule, we’ll pick and choose and hit what we can when we aren’t racing at our weekly tracks.”

Barker in recent years has had much success racing on the southern tier scene winning multiple features and championships.

As for Klinger, he has a highly successful history at the Minersville Pa Big Diamond Speedway, before he decided to do most of his racing up North in recent years.

Klinger owned modifieds at Big Diamond Speedway when he first ventured to the facility back in the late 90’s, as NY standout racer Jerry Higbie sat behind the wheel of Klinger’s first #77 modified for a few Friday nights when Klinger first started out.

But Klinger’s biggest success came when he was the crew chief for the Dennis ‘Moose’ Eisenhard owned #77 driven by the all time great Doug Hoffman. They dominated the Big Diamond racing scene from 2003-2005.

With Klinger’s past experience and success at the Big Diamond Speedway, he is definitely the right guy to help Barker get going in the right direction and have some success going into this new venture for him.

Klinger added, “Alan likes the faster tracks and Big Diamond is a fast track, so it should suite his driving style well.”

With 2020 being a ‘specials only’ type racing deal for Barker/Klinger and their new spec small block motor program, hopefully encouraging results will be obtained and they can expand their spec motor program towards a bigger and better schedule with it heading into the future.