Harrison Burton Tames Bristol for First NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Win
- 26 Apr 2017
Burton won the rain-shortened, rain-delayed K&N Pro Series East race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee after starting on the pole and leading all but two laps. The rain came and ended the race after 70 laps of the scheduled 125. It took 17 starts and two seasons in the K&N Pro Series East, but the 16-year-old Burton won his first race in the series. “I was pretty excited to come back and get the win,” Burton said. “It was something I circled on my calendar for probably a whole year. I knew we had a really strong car the last time we came here. Even though it was a different team, I knew my guys were capable of giving me a fast car and I feel I was really confident here. I am just really excited to get the win for sure.” Burton won the pole and led the first 13 laps of the Zombie Auto 125 K&N Pro Series East race at Bristol in 2016. He ended up finishing in 23rd place. Rained washed out qualifying for this year’s K&N Pro Series East race at Bristol. Burton leads the K&N Pro Series East standings and was awarded the pole. The rainy days at Bristol led to delays in practice for the accompanying NASCAR Xfinity race, pushing the start of the K&N Pro Series East race back almost two hours.
The race was halted on lap 70 because of rain and never resumed. Burton was declared the winner. "I feel like every team circles this race on their calendar," Burton said. "We kind of wanted to run the whole race and win it that way. We were confident our car was good enough that we could win it that way. I feel like it would've been cool to cross the line in dry conditions. But, I'll take it. I never wanted it to rain so bad in my life." Burton is also racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. His next race is at Dover International Speedway. Burton said winning a K&N Pro Series race will help him in the Truck Series. “I feel that it increases my confidence,” Burton said. “I know I can get it done in a big, heavy stock car. I was pretty confident in the super late model division, which are light, high horsepower and really fast. I am really confident in these bigger, heavier cars. I feel like I can go out and run with the best of them.” Ruben Garcia Jr. was second in the K&N Pro Series East race at Bristol. It was the best finish of his K&N Pro Series career. “Every time we get on the track, we are getting better and better,” Garcia said. “If we keep working at that, if I keep putting all my effort every time we are on the track, something will be on the checkered flag.”
Burton leads the K&N Pro Series East standings by 15 points over Baize after three races. “It was a lot of fun for sure,” Burton said. “It’s been a long time coming. To come out and get a win, it’s super, super cool. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life for sure.” The next K&N Pro Series East race is at South Boston Speedway. | |||
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