7/9/2017
RacinBoys
Burton continues K&N Pro Series East roll
By NASCARHomeTracks.com (Thompson, CT) -- Harrison Burton continues to put a disappointing rookie season in the rearview mirror with a sensational sophomore campaign.
The 16-year-old from Huntersville, North Carolina, outdueled fellow NASCAR Next driver Todd Gilliland in a thrilling side-by-side battle for the lead and claimed the Busch North Throwback 100 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. It was Burton's third win in the last four races and fourth win of the year out of eight starts.
PHOTO CREDIT: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR
Just past halfway through the 2017 schedule, Burton has already opened up a 22-point lead over Gilliland in the championship race.
Burton finished seventh in points last year in his first season, with five top 10s in 14 races and every manner of bad luck. What a difference a year makes. Saturday was his seventh top five in eight races, and his sixth-place finish last week at Michigan's Berlin Raceway marked his worst run of the season.
The series made its return to Thompson for the first time since 2009. The historic Connecticut oval was a staple of the early years of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, when it was primarily a New England-based series under the Busch North banner. Burton added his name to a list of series winners at Thompson that include NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Mike Stefanik, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Martin Truex Jr. and Trevor Bayne, and former Cup driver Ricky Craven.
Burton was presented the trophy in Victory Lane by Joey Kourafas, who won the series' inaugural championship in 1987.
To get there, Burton had to fight his way past Gilliland. The two engaged in a door-to-door battle for several laps before Burton took the lead on Lap 75 and pulled away. Burton finished .719 seconds ahead of Gilliland, who led a race-high 58 laps.
Ronnie Bassett Jr. came home third.
Four-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Doug Coby, making his first K&N Pro Series start, finished fourth. Coby has four Whelen Modified Tour wins at Thompson.
Ronnie's brother, Dillon Bassett, rounded out the top five. Ryan Preece finished sixth, followed by Chase Purdy, Ruben Garcia Jr., Jay Beasley and Chase Cabre.
Earlier in the day, Purdy broke Truex's track record in qualifying en route to collecting his third straight 21 Means 21 Pole Award presented by Coors Light.
The Busch North Throwback 100 will air on NBCSN on Thursday, July 13 at 7 p.m.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East stays in New England, as it heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the United Site Services 70 on Saturday, July 15.
RESULTS
Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Points B/Points Status
1 3 12 Harrison Burton Dex Imaging Toyota 100 47 4 Running
2 2 16 Todd Gilliland NAPA Auto Parts Toyota 100 44 2 Running
3 6 04 Ronnie Bassett, Jr. Bassett Gutters and More Chevrolet 100 41 Running
4 8 43 Doug Coby * Dunleavy's Truck & Trailer Toyota 100 40 Running
5 5 44 Dillon Bassett Bassett Gutters and More Ford 100 39 Running
6 4 31 Ryan Preece Whelen Engineering Chevrolet 100 38 Running
7 1 17 Chase Purdy * Bama Buggies/Textron Off-Road Toyota 100 38 1 Running
8 10 3 Ruben Garcia Jr. Max Siegel, Inc. Toyota 100 36 Running
9 14 42 Jay Beasley CASTLE Toyota 100 35 Running
10 7 6 Chase Cabre * Lincoln Electric Toyota 100 34 Running
11 9 4 Jared Irvan * Boyer Drilling/Overstock Mercantile Toyota 100 33 Running
12 16 13 Hunter Baize Reynolds Wrap Chevrolet 100 32 Running
13 15 71 Eddie MacDonald Aubuchon Hardware/Grimm Const Chevrolet 100 31 Running
14 13 9 Enrique Baca * Nextgen Motorsports Chevrolet 100 30 Running
15 20 32 Ray Parent * www.AnytimeRealty.com Ford 99 29 Running
16 19 36 Stafford Smith The Patriot Mtrsprts Group\Lights Out Chevrolet 98 28 Running
17 12 2 Collin Cabre UTI/NTI Toyota 98 27 Running
18 18 38 John Wood Stoney's Rockin Country\Wahl Traction Chevrolet 96 26 Running
19 17 34 Andrew Engberson * The Patriot Motorsports Group Ford 100 25 Accident
20 11 30 Tyler Dippel D and A Concrete Ford 42 24 Engine
RACE STATISTICS
Fastest Qualifier: Chase Purdy *, Time: 20.197 Seconds, Speed: 111.403 mph
Time of Race: 0 hrs., 45 mins, 14 secs Average Speed: 82.903 mph Margin of Victory: .719 Seconds
Caution Flags: Laps 10-13 (Weather - No FP); 32-35 (#2/#30 Turn 1&2 - FP #38); 43-48 (#30 Turn 2 - No FP); 52-56 (#34 Backstretch - FP #2). 4 for 19 laps.
Lap Leaders: Chase Purdy * 1-16, Todd Gilliland 17-74, Harrison Burton 75-100.
Total Laps Led: Todd Gilliland 58, Harrison Burton 26, Chase Purdy * 16. 2 changes involving 3 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: Harrison Burton 347, Todd Gilliland 325, Chase Purdy * 292, Ronnie Bassett, Jr. 290, Chase Cabre * 284, Ruben Garcia Jr. 284, Hunter Baize 283, Jay Beasley 270, Dillon Bassett 255, Collin Cabre 247
Next Race:New Hampshire Motor Speedway
- Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott
