Veteran Bermudian driver finishes third in championship final after chaotic week
Bermudian karting driver Scott Barnes completed his pursuit of silverware in the Nevada desert, securing a hard-fought third-place finish in the ROK Shifter Masters/Super Masters final at the 2026 ROK Vegas Championship.
The veteran racer delivered a composed drive against an elite international field under the Las Vegas lights, navigating intense wheel-to-wheel battles on an unforgiving circuit to cross the line on the podium.
The result capped an unpredictable week of competition at the Rio Hotel & Casino, where drivers had to contend with extreme conditions ranging from blistering heat to hail and flash flooding.
Barnes qualified off pole in second position and stayed firmly at the sharp end of the field throughout the heats despite limited competitive seat time heading into the event.
“Leaving Vegas with some hardware,” Barnes said. “Should have been a second place, but had to settle for third. A podium in Vegas, I’ll take all day long!
“We ran up the front all weekend, qualified off pole in P2, and even raced in hail on slicks for the first time. It was my first time at this event, first time with a new motor builder, and under a new team. Walking away with a top-three on a super tight track with zero room for error, I’ll take it.”
The podium marks another standout international showing for the seasoned Bermudian competitor, who successfully adapted to both a new setup and volatile track conditions to bring hardware back to the island.
