MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 30, 2017) – Although Harrison Burton hasn’t been behind the wheel of the No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Toyota Tundra in over two months, he has been busy racing and continuing his winning ways in 2017. Since the last time he raced for KBM, he has picked up two victories in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, where he currently sits atop the 2017 championship standings, as well as a win in the ARCA Racing Series.
On April 22 Burton raced his way to his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East win at the coveted Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. The 16-year-old dominated the race, leading 68 laps before rain ended the race early on lap 70. Burton’s second win came two weeks later at South Boston (Va.) Speedway on May 6 after leading three laps on his way to the checkered flag.
The second-generation driver continued his hot start to the 2017 season picking up his first career win in the ARCA Racing Series at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway on May 21. In just his second career series start, Burton executed a bump-and-run pass of Dalton Sargeant to take the lead with eight laps remaining and then cruised to a 1.852-second victory. The victory was hi seventh overall this season, with four Super Late Model wins, two K&N Pro Series.
Burton now returns to the NCWTS for his second of six starts with KBM this season. His season debut in the No. 51 DEX Imaging Tundra came at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway earlier this season. He started the race from the seventh position and after a late-race spin that put him near the rear of the field, he worked his way back to a solid 13th-place finish. After Dover, Burton will pilot the No. 51 Tundra at four more NCWTS events including Iowa Speedway in Newton June 23, Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio July 19, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway Aug. 16 and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway Oct. 28.
When Burton takes the green flag Friday at The Monster Mile, he will don the colors of his sponsor DEX Imaging. DEX Imaging, based out of Tampa, Fla., is the nation’s largest independent provider of office technology with a local touch. Burton is excited to have them back on board the No. 51 Toyota Tundra and he hopes to tame the “Monster Mile” of Dover International Speedway and take his team to Victory Lane Friday afternoon.
Harrison Burton, Driver of the No. 51 NCWTS DEX Imaging Tundra:
This is your second NCWTS race of the season, how do you feel going into Dover?
“I am really excited going into Dover. We have a really great truck. I have been in the shop a lot with the guys and they are confident about the weekend. I can’t wait to get in my DEX Imaging Tundra and see what we have when we unload. I know that if we are good or bad we are going to work hard in practice to get it better either way. I am just really excited to get going.”
You have experience at Dover, can you take that and apply it to this weekend?
“I raced at Dover last year in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East – we finished sixth after an issue with a flat tire. I think that I can definitely take what I learned during that race and apply it to the Truck Series. The K&N Series was made to help develop young drivers into Truck Series drivers and eventually Cup Series drivers. So, I can take what I learn in that series and use it to my advantage as I step up and take on the Truck Series.”
Kevin “Bono” Manion, Crew Chief of the No. 51 NCWTS DEX Imaging Tundra:
Harrison Burton is back in the truck this weekend for the second time this season, what are your thoughts about Friday’s race?
“The whole No. 51 team is excited to have Harrison back in the truck this weekend at Dover (International Speedway). We had a solid run with him in his season debut at Martinsville and we plan to build on that. I know that Harrison learned a lot at Martinsville and hopefully he will take what he learned and apply it this weekend so that we can bring home another great finish for Kyle Busch Motorsports.”
Harrison Burton’s No. 51 DEX Imaging Tundra:
KBM-033: The No. 51 DEX Imaging team will race KBM-033 for Friday’s Bar Harbor 200. This Tundra earned a second-place finish at Dover International Speedway in 2016 with Daniel Suarez.
- Made his first of six 2017 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway where he started seventh and finished 13th
- After five events leads the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship standings by 18 points over Todd Gilliland
- Has collected two wins (Bristol, South Boston), two poles, 79 laps led, five top-five and five top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 3.0 across the first five K&N Pros Series East events
- Outdueled NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series driver Erik Jones to pick up the victory in the prestigious ARCA/CRA Super Late Model Series Speedfest at Crisp Motorsports Park in Cordele, Ga. (1/29/17)
- Crowned the Super Late Model division champion in the 51st Annual World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway in February after posting two wins, two runner-up finishes and an average finish of 2.4 across five races (2/20/17 – 2/25/17)
- Led 31 of 100 laps en route to victory in the CARS Super Late Model Tour event at Concord (N.C.) Speedway (3/11/17)
- Competed in the NACAR K&N Pro Series East earning one top-five, five top-10 finishes and one pole in 14 starts in his rookie season
- Won three Super Late Model events, including a Southern Super Series Blizzard Series race at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla.
- Earned a third-place finish in his ARCA Racing Series debut at Iowa Speedway
- Made first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in October where he started 17thfinished 22nd
- Became the youngest driver (15 years and eight days) to make NASCAR K&N Pro Series West start
- Competed in two NASCAR K&N Pro Series West races earning one top-10 finish
- Became the youngest winner in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series history with a victory at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway