Scott Barnes suffered misfortune at the World Karting Association Daytona Kartweek after the chain broke on his open shifter kart bringing an end to his competition.

Barnes was hoping to end the year on a high at the iconic Daytona International Speedway but a mixture of rain and bad luck put paid to those aspirations.

The Bermudian was unable to retain his 125 Stock Honda Shifter title after settling for fourth place in a particularly tight race before retiring on lap three of the shifter race.

“Unfortunately, the weather didn’t quite co-operate with us this year, Barnes said.

“It rained all day on the first day of practice and on the second day we got two practice sessions in before the rain came again and they cancelled the race day. It was dry on the third day and we got two morning practice sessions in, so I felt good going into the races. In the first race I started fourteenth but had a great hole shot and actually made it to first by the first corner.

“I ran up front for almost the whole race and there was probably a pack of ten of us drafting the whole time, changing positions throughout race.

“We knew we had to be in second going into the final lap to have a chance of the win.

“I made a move to get into second behind a really fast guy and was pushing him during the whole last lap.

“However, in typical Daytona style, two guys ended drafting past us right at the finishing line, which left me in fourth place.

“It wasn’t a bad result, but it wasn’t what we were looking for.”

Barnes, the island’s top driver, made a strong start in his open shifter race before he was forced to withdraw because of a mechanical issue.

“I got myself up to the top three in a fast kart that could have won the race,” said Barnes, who last season became the first local driver in two decades to win three classes — the Shifter, L206 Senior and Tag Senior.

“Unfortunately, in the third lap my chain broke and that was the end of the race and the end of my weekend.”

Barnes, who also raced at the Rock Island Grand Prix in Illinois in September and the Skusa SuperNationals in November, will compete in the Skusa Superkarts USA Pro Tour next season in what will be his first US Championship series.

The Bermuda Karting Club cancelled their fifth race day of the season at the Rubis Southside Raceway today because of high winds.

They will continue their season on Sunday.