The Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter division has evolved into a competitive brand of racing at Speedway 660. The drivers of these little cars put on a great show every week for our fans. Wade Wilson recently had a chance to talk with Courtney Barton about her passion for racing.

Talkin with Courtney Barton

Wade: Hello Courtney, you Sharp Shooters look like you are having lots of fun out on the track down at Speedway 660.

Courtney: Hey Wade, yeah, I guess you could certainly say that. It is definitely a fun division, most weeks. Other weeks can be pretty frustrating. Those are the weeks I feel like I am back in my Enduro days. The only difference is now I will get the black flag if I intentionally spin these guys out. But I show up each week looking to have fun, run with the “boys” and simply encourage others to get involved and have some fun.

Courtney Barton (#21) gets “turned around” earlier this season in a Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter feature race.

Wade: Enduro fans know you from your days in that division. I can still see that great paint scheme you had back then in what we called “The Holstein Express”.

Courtney: There sure are a lot of people out there who remember that car. It made lots of  people smile, laugh and even brought some tears to a few faces. It was all done up that way for the kids. Jennifer, my oldest sister and our Dad came up with the paint scheme. It was an immediate hit with the Enduro race fans at 660. We kept the paint scheme for years before I moved up to the Sharp Shooter Division. However, the “Cow Car” is coming back! This weekend Kim, another sister, is going to run the newest version of that car in Sunday’s ENDURO. We can’t wait for that one.That old “Cow Car” was a fan favourite at Speedway 660 ENDURO events. Courtney was a crowd favourite too, because she liked to mix it up and didn’t take any “bull” from the guys!

Wade: How did you get involved in racing and what was it like being a young girl out there racing Enduro, the toughest, roughest division in racing?

Courtney: I get asked that a lot. My Father Kenny is to blame for getting me into racing and interested in turning wrenches. Back when I was 12 or 13 I remember going to Speedway 660 every weekend with my family to watch the races. We never really had the money or the interest to start with the go-karts or bando cars. Oh and not to mention, my parents brought me up by the, “you want it, you work for it” slogan.

By the time I was 15, I used to sneak into the pits a few times. By then Dad was racing Enduro as a hobby and there was no way that I was going to miss any of his races. I enjoyed the rush of getting that car ready and doing whatever was possible to get it running again during and between ENDUROS. Stopping leaks is one of the toughest things to do during a race. I love the way the ENDUROs burn rubber and before long I realized racin was in my blood.

When I was finally old enough to get behind the wheel, back when rules were rules, Dad or “Papa Bear”, as the Barton girls like to call him,  caved and let me “borrow” his car. He let me start a 200 lap race and within the first 20 laps he decided I could hold my own and I would be just fine. Kenny Barton’s to blame for getting his daughter Courtney involved in racing! After a few years successfully running the old “Holstein Express” in our ENDURO division, Courtney is now running a  Sharp Shooter.

Wade: You and Kim were the only young ladies running ENDURO and you are the only one running full-time in Sharp Shooter this season. How do the boys treat you?

Courtney: Not too bad. You know I love being the only female in a group of men. I felt like there was no reason they should treat me any differently and I didn’t expect any special treatment back in ENDURO and  I still don’t.

The only special treatment I received in my first ENDURO was a few extra bumps and scratches and a huge barrel roll on the back stretch. I remember  my emotions got the best of me. For a minute or two after that flippin-roll, I thought the guys had got the best of me and I even cried a little. Thanks to a great bunch in the pits, they fixed the car, I dried my tears, got back out and gave the boys some of their own medicine. For me, it’s a thrill, an adrenaline rush and a passion to drive.Welcome to ENDURO! Courtney crawls out of her race car after a wicked barrel-roll in the Geary Woods. That wreck was part of the growing pains that have made Courtney one of the toughest drivers at Speedway 660.

Wade: What do you think of all of the girls who are racing these days? Heidi Cooper is a veteran street stocker, but more recently we have seen the O’Blenis girls, Destiny Enkel and Sarah MacKay have lots of success. All of you ladies are great!

Courtney: I love the fact these girls are showing the guys that we too can do it! Heidi has always been an inspiration to me. She is a tough chick and a down-to-earth person. I remember sitting in the stands, when I was a kid, watching her every week and always cheering her on. Now we are pit buddies and it’s great. The O’Blenis girls as well as Sarah and Destiny are certainly making a name for themselves! Its awesome! I hope to move up some day and run with them.Heidi Cooper has been running for many years in the DMR Auto Sales & Service Street Stock Division at Speedway 660. Heidi, a fan favourite, is a role model and inspiration for a whole new generation of lady racers including Courtney Barton. 

Wade: Sharp Shooter racing is one of the least expensive ways to go racing, but it still costs money to get here every week and put on a show for our fans.

Courtney: The Sharp Shooter division is definitely a cheaper division and that’s why I’m here. This year it’s all on me. Well, me and my Dad. I don’t have any sponsors this year other than him. He hauls my car to the track each week and I pay for everything else. Parts, repairs, fuel to race, pit passes – it all adds up. Even though we don’t have sponsors I couldn’t race with a blank car, so I had to add a little color and character to it. My father wanted me to go “cow colours” but I just couldn’t do it. That was an ENDURO thing and a little pink on my car lets the guys know they have a female with them. I would really appreciate the help if a sponsor ever does come along (hint-hint). I do want to go bigger and dream of moving up a division or two. I guess we will see what happens.Courtney (#21) crosses the stripe third in a recent race at Speedway 660.  Courtney loves running in our Sharp Shooter division, but would jump at an opportunity to move up to Street Stock, Sportsman or even Pro Stock some day.

Wade: Racing is a family sport and I know you’ve got a lot of support and encouragement from the Barton family?

Courtney: If it wasn’t for my family, I wouldn’t be where I am today. They have supported my love for racing since day one. This is my 6th year behind the wheel of a car at 660 and every season their encouragement grows. My parents are always there to cheer me on, calm me down, whatever the case may be.

They also supported my career choice and my decision to go to Community College and become an Automotive Technician. I graduated from NBCC in 2011 and have earned a living turning wrenches ever since.Kenny Barton, flanked by his daughters Courtney and Kim, loves racin at Speedway 660. Team Barton will be busy this weekend with Courtney running the 30 lap Sharp Shooter race on Saturday night and Kim taking the newest version of the “Cow Car” for a spin in Sunday’s ENDURO!

Wade: This weekend Speedway 660 is putting the spot-light on the Sharp Shooters. You’ll run a 30 lap feature, which is double what you usually do. How are you going to prepare the car and yourself for the big race?

Courtney: Well it’s hard to say if this 30 lap feature will be a good thing or a bad thing. I guess it all depends on how many cars land on their roof. I am excited for the race, maybe a little more than usual. I am definitely going to get the car handling as good as possible and as usual, hope for the best!

Wade: Most fans probably think the Sharp Shooters are out there to have fun, but like any form of racing there are some drivers who are pretty serious when it comes to doing what it takes to win races and championships.

Courtney: Every week my goal is to have fun. It’s all about fun to me but it’s also a passion. I do take it serious up to a point. Everyone wants to run up front and it’s a great feeling when that happens. It gives you a different rush and a lot of pride. Even though the Sharp Shooters is just a “little four banger division” it’s still a race to the finish. I do have a low tolerance for crap and I think some of the fellas who have ran with me the last couple years have figured that out. I have a little more respect in the division now. Not saying I will stick around forever, but a championship at some point would be nice.Speedway 660’s little Sharp Shooters are a fan favourite. These little “four-bangers” always put on a great show and it’ll be fun to watch them race in a 30 lap feature this weekend.

Wade: What about the future? Are you happy to hang around in the Sharp Shooter Division for a few years or do you have your sights set on moving up to another Division at Speedway 660?

Courtney: The only thing I can see in the future is a lot more racing. Going fast and turning left. A sponsorship would be great and it would take racing with the guys to a whole new level, hopefully in a new car. But I guess for now I’ll continue as a sharp shooter.

Wade: Thanks for doing this Courtney and good luck this weekend?

Courtney: Thank you Wade, for asking me to do one of these Conversations. I look forward to seeing them of the 660 web site every week. Hopefully we’ll have a great weekend. And please make sure to tell the Speedway 660 fans that Team Barton’s newest version of the “Cow Car” is all ready for Sunday’s ENDURO.