Hollywood stuntman goes to Indy 500
Stanton Barrett has performed stunts in movies such as Dante’s Peak and Spiderman.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Stanton Barrett has already made the big screen, now he’s hoping to make the big time by competing in the Indianapolis 500.
One of Hollywood’s leading stunt men, Barrett has performed stunts in over 200 films and television shows, including The Dukes of Hazzard, Spiderman, Batman, Jurassic Park, Volcano, and Dante’s Peak. And when Barrett wasn’t dodging punches, falling out of buildings or crashing cars, he performed in NASCAR, in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series.
His move to the IndyCar Series with Team 3G, which stands for “3 Guys,” is a partnership between long-time IndyCar independent car owner Greg Beck, marketer Steve Suddler and Barrett. It’s the culmination of a dream Barrett had in the 1990s, when he wanted to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the races in the old CART series.
“I wanted to run IndyCars prior to the split, and when the split happened there was so much uncertainty,” Barrett said. “People were leery of investing their marketing dollars in that. I had some chances that were pretty close, but it didn’t happen so I stayed with NASCAR.”
In Barrett’s mind, though, the tide has changed.
“Right now, NASCAR is getting so expensive. You have to have a lot of money to run over here,” he said. “IndyCar provides a world platform for auto racing. It is one of the most reputable sports and it is very feasible for sponsors to have a presence in motorsports and fulfill their marketing and entertainment needs.”
The “on-the-edge” style of racing is something that attracted Barrett to IndyCar racing.
“There is a different aggression to driving an IndyCar than in NASCAR,” Barrett said. “From the style of car and the racing, it’s a different feeling all together. They are exciting and they are technologically advanced and they are super cool to watch. The sounds and the speeds are phenomenal. They are the fastest cars in the world other than a drag racer. I’m really excited. I love the road course racing and I love the downforce in those cars and the type of tire they use. It’s really exciting and a lot of fun. I hope I have a very good feel at that.”
That should be fun. Good luck, Stanton!