Blair Racing and its driver Barron raced in the Ameristar Casino Indy 200 at Kansas Speedway. Round nine of 15 races in the 2002 Indy Racing League (IRL) was run on the 1.5-mile, tri-shaped oval. The event sold out for the second consecutive year, with a crowd of 80,000 fans cheering as the 23 drivers took the checkered flag. Barron started 11th for the 200-lap event. The summer heat and long work weeks made this event even tougher as today's race was the last of a crucial stretch of four races in five weeks. Temperatures soared here going over 100 with high humidity and the track temperature reaching over 150. The Kansas fans didn't fear the heat and were enthusiastic as the race went on. The Rayovac Blair crew stayed focused and ready, making four spectacular pit stops during the race. Barron battled the heat and the field to run up front again finishing eighth. This gives Blair Racing seven top-ten finishes for the season and six top-ten finishes in the last six races.

"We had great pit stops today; the team really worked hard today," said Barron. "It was definitely hot this weekend. The heat played a big part in the way the motor runs, the handling of the car and it affects team performance. It is hot and it's hard to stay hydrated. The team did a really good job. We are still doing OK in the championship with another top-ten finish. We still want to win and that is on the front of our minds. "

The series and the Blair Racing team gets a well deserved break; the next race will be July 20 at Nashville Superspeedway. The 1.33-mile oval is located in Lebanon, TN. The race airs live on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. (EDT). The tenth race of the season will also air live on the IMS Radio Network. The IRL's official website can help you locate a radio station near you; it also has live timing and scoring at www.indyracing.com.

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