Bootie Barker is a well-known name in the world of motorsports, having worked as a crew chief for several teams and drivers.
What many of his fans don’t know is that he has been wheelchair-stricken for most of his life due to an accident. Barker was born on March 2, 1971, in Halifax, Virginia, and is currently working for the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE, owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan.
Before his current role, Barker served as a crew chief for the No. 66 Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet driven by Jeff Green, the No. 70 Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet driven by Johnny Sauter, and the No. 55 Toyota driven by Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip.
Despite growing up near the South Boston Speedway, his initial interest was in football, and he even played as a linebacker for his school’s football team. It wasn’t until after college that he pursued a career in motorsports after receiving a degree in mechanical engineering from Old Dominion University.
One of his first jobs in the field was selling tires, writing magazine columns, and working for racer Ashton Lewis. Barker has been wheelchair-stricken since his teenage years when he was involved in an accident that rendered him paralyzed from the waist down. He doesn’t let his disability affect his work and is not even interested in discussing its impact on his career.
Barker has been married to his wife, Christy Smith for over two decades, and the couple reportedly shares two daughters. While Smith remains largely outside the spotlight, Barker continues to thrive in his career, despite the challenges he has faced.
