Date: April 1, 2017
Event: Alpha Energy Solutions 250 (Race 3 of 23)
Series: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (0.526-mile oval)
Format: Three Stages; 70 laps/70 laps/110 laps
Start/Finish: 7th/13th (running, completed 250/250 laps)
Winner: Chase Elliott of GMS Racing (Chevrolet)
Harrison Burton, in only his second time behind the wheel of a Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) truck, finished a career-best 13th place in the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS). This was his first race of the 2017 NCWTS season.
Stage One Recap:
- Burton started his No. 51 DEX Imaging Toyota Tundra seventh on Saturday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway.
- During the first stage of the race Burton found his rhythm in the truck and stayed near the top 10 for most of the 70-lap stage. He was scored 11thwhen the caution flag flew.
Stage Two Recap:
- Burton began stage two from the 10thposition with four fresh tires.
- When the caution flag flew on Lap 117 the No. 51 Toyota Racing team did not make a trip to pit road when most of the leaders in the field did. Burton restarted sixth but when the stage ended, under a caution, the rookie was scored seventh.
Stage Three Recap:
- After a four-tire pit stop, the DEX Imaging Tundra started the third stage 16thafter many of the trucks in front of him did not pit.
- On Lap 174 Burton was caught in a three-truck scuffle and got spun from behind, bringing out a caution. The 16-year-old brought his Toyota Tundra to pit road for four tires. Luckily, the No. 51 Tundra received very minor damage from the spin.
- For the rest of the race Burton got back into his rhythm and was scored 13thwhen the checkered flag flew.
HARRISON BURTON, driver of the No. 51 DEX Imaging Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:
This was your first race of the season, what are your thoughts?
“I had a lot of fun. It didn’t go quite our way, but we really fought hard and these guys never quit on me and I never quit on them. It is really cool to be a part of something like that. Even though we didn’t get the finish we wanted, 13th is still something we can build on and something I can go home and be proud of. I am really happy that we ended the race and still has a drivable truck. I am really proud of our guys and we made good changes all day and I just can’t wait for my next race.”
Alpha Energy Solutions 250 Recap:
- Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott won the race, his second victory in 12 truck starts. Elliott’s teammate Johnny Sauter was second, followed by KBM’s Christopher Bell, Noah Gragson and Ty Dillon rounded out the top-five finishers.
- The race featured 10 cautions for a total of 63 laps. There were four lead changes among three drivers. KBM’s Christopher Bell lead two times for 96 laps.