Tri-County honoring longtime supporter
Tri-County Racetrack will pay tribute to one of its longstanding supporters Monday with the Clarence Barnett Memorial, a $3,437.38-to-win Super Late Model event highlighting the 10th annual Labor Day championship at the Brasstown, N.C., oval.
Clarence "C.T." Barnett of nearby Murphy, N.C., attended the track's first-ever event in 1967 and has missed only a handful of events in the 54-year history of the western North Carolina track now promoted by Ray Cook.
Barnett, who worked for the North Carolina Department of Transportation for 44 years and retired as Cherokee County maintenance supervisor, died Aug. 31 in Murphy. He was 93.
Among survivors are sons Glenn Barnett (car No. 34) and Joe Barnett (car No. 37) along with grandson Jamie Oliver (car No. 38), all longtime racers at Tri-County. Their car numbers combine to come up with the purse for the 38-lap event (the original purse was $1,500-to-win).
Five other divisions are in action with the pits opening at 3 p.m. and racing at 6:30. General admission is $15. Visit tricountyracetrack.net or the track's Facebook page for more details.