MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 3, 2017) – For the first time in series history, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) raced at the 4/10-mile Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich., on Saturday, July 1. MDM Motorsports fielded two entries in the competition with drivers Harrison Burton and Travis Miller. Burton entered Saturday’s event as the series points leader.
Teams tested at the unique track on Friday evening, and after a solid test, both Burton and Miller were ready for Saturday’s Stars and Stripes 150. In the final practice session at Berlin Raceway, Burton was fourth quick and Miller was seventh quick. In group qualifying Burton, the 16-year-old driver from Huntersville, N.C., backed up his practice speed by qualifying fourth. His teammate and Virginia native, Miller, qualified his Toyota ninth. The 150-lap event was a four tire race, meaning teams could not change tires at halfway. The first half of the event was all about saving tires. Both Burton and Miller fell outside the top-10 early to save their tires. With just a few laps to go in the first half, they both worked their way towards the front to set themselves up for a run to the finish. The second half began a lot the same way for both drivers. As the laps wound down, the action picked up. Multiple cautions towards the end of the race bunched up the 17-car field. With just a few laps remaining a car spun off of turn four, and Burton had nowhere to go and was collected in the incident. Despite some damage, he was able to continue. A lap later, Miller was caught up in an incident in turn three and wasn’t able to come back to the checkers. Burton salvaged a sixth-place finish and Miller was 12th.
Burton, driver of the DEX Imaging No. 12… Burton entered the Stars and Stripes 150 as the current NKNPSE points leader. He practiced and qualified his No. 12 DEX Imaging Toyota in the top-five. At the start of the 150-lap event, Burton elected to save his tires, like many other front runners, and faded towards the back. He marched his way near the top-five by halfway, setting up for an aggressive run to the finish. Running fifth with just a handful of laps left, another car spun in front of him and he had nowhere to go. The caution flag did not wave and he was able to continue racing despite the damage. He scored a sixth-place finish and now leads the NKNPSE points standings by 19 points. Burton and the No. 12 DEX Imaging team will head to Thompson Speedway next weekend.
Burton on Berlin: “Berlin is a tricky race track,” said Burton. “We came here and raced the Super Late Model a couple weeks ago and that helped for sure. These K&N cars are a different beast though; they are much heavier than late models. Running 150 laps on the same set of tires was tough. Like everyone, we just lacked overall grip most of the night. Not the finish we wanted, but for what it could’ve been, I think we’re all okay with a sixth-place finish. I’m looking forward to Thompson next weekend. Hopefully we can put he No. 12 DEX Imaging Toyota back in victory lane.”
The NKNPSE Stars and Stripes 150 from Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich. will air July 7, at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
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