Anthony Christopher Barnes was born on June 12, 1995. He was born with a rare disease known as Spinal Bifida. Barnes is paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair. He has been around the sport of auto racing his entire life. He grew up at Hickory Motor Speedway and Tri-County Motor Speedway and currently resides in Taylorsville, NC.
Several years ago he lost a friend, Jake Ziegler, due to an auto accident. Jake was also a very close friend to driver Travis Byrd. After the passing, Byrd asked Barnes if he would like to join him and his team down in the pits. Since then, Barnes’ passion for the sport has greatly increased. Byrd drives for the Dwight Huffman Racing stables, one of the longest running teams at the track. The team always hosts a Christmas party, and that year, at the party, they presented Barnes with a NASCAR license for the next year.
Barnes now proudly helps the team each week with a myriad of duties. He helps push the car around the pit area, load and unload the car and pit equipment, and, one of the most important jobs on race day, ensures the driver is hooked up and has everything he needs.
“It doesn’t matter what struggles life throws at you, if you want to do something, set your mind to it. God will provide you the strength and courage to achieve anything and everything you set your mind to.”
I asked Barnes who some of his hero’s and idols were growing up, his response was “Mr. Dale Jarrett”, “Jeremy Mayfield” and the most important one is “Bootie Barker”, crew chief on the No. 13 GEICO NASCAR Sprint Cup Team. “Bootie” is also confined to a wheelchair. Barnes is currently involved with two teams, “No Talent Motorsports” based out of Taylorsville, NC with drivers Zachery Bruenger and Mitch Walker. They race in the T-Mobile Limited Late Model division at Hickory Motor Speedway. The other team Barnes helps out is NCN Ministries \Integrity Motorsports with driver, Allen Huffman. They also compete at Hickory Motor Speedway in the Smokey’s Super Truck Series.
What motivates Barnes? His mother, for one, “My mom is my number one supporter, she is by my side everyday. Secondly, is my family at Hickory Motor Speedway, I am truly blessed with the amazing support group I have, not only on race day, but every single day.” stated Barnes.
Some of his favorite tracks include his local tracks, Hickory and Tri-County, and with the NASCAR national series they are Charlotte, Bristol, and Martinsville. The last question I asked him was, “What’s some advice you could give anyone that wants to get involved what would that be?” He replied “It doesn’t matter what struggles life throws at you, if you want to do something set your mind to it. God will provide you the strength and courage to achieve anything and everything you set your mind to.”
Barnes is a true inspiration to myself and many, many more in the sport. He always has a smile on his face and means business when he’s working, or if he is mingling in the crowd he is always willing to talk to anyone. I want to wish him great luck with the rest of his life.
