Date: June 23, 2017
Event: M&M’s 200 (Race 9 of 23)
Series: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Location: Iowa Speedwayb in Newton (.875-mile oval)
Format: Three Stages; 60 laps/60 laps/80 laps
Start/Finish: 15th/11th (Running, completed 199 of 200 laps)
Winner: John Hunter Nemechek of NEMCO Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Harrison Burton, driver of the No. 51 Morton Buildings Toyota Tundra, posted his career-best finish in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) in Friday night’s M&M’s 200 at Iowa Speedway in Newton. Burton ran a strong race and was running in the top-five when an incident spun him on the last lap, resulting in an 11th-place finish. The 200-lap race was only his third 2017 start behind the wheel of the Kyle Busch Motorsports Tundra.
Stage One Recap:
- Earlier in the day, Burton qualified his No. 51 Morton Buildings Toyota Tundra 15th to start Friday’s race. When the green flag dropped the rookie driver held his own against veteran drivers in his first NCWTS start at Iowa. Burton slowly passed trucks on the track and battled with fellow Toyota-driver Matt Crafton for the 12th position near the end of the stage, eventually winning the battle. When the caution flag flew to end the stage, Burton was in the 12th position.
Stage Two Recap:
- Burton started Stage Two by making a trip to pit road for four fresh tires and a track bar adjustment, placing him 15th when the stage began. During the stage Burton raced his way back to 12th place until a caution came out on Lap 107. Battling a tight Toyota Tundra, the 16-year-old stopped on pit road for four new tires and adjustments. Burton was running 13th when the second caution flag of the night flew. The stage ended under caution and Burton was scored 10th.
Stage Three Recap:
- Stage Three began after the trucks were stopped on track under red-flag conditions. When the green flag came back out Burton had his best restart of the night and quickly moved to the 8th position. Burton battled for position throughout most of the stage, showing off veteran moves on the track. He made one final trip to pit road under caution on Lap 184 and restarted ninth with only seven laps to-go in the race. On the final lap of the night, Burton was running in the top five when he got caught in an incident that spun him around and resulted in an 11th-place finish.
Harrison Burton, driver of the No. 51 Morton Buildings Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:
How was your race and what resulted in the last lap contact?
“Just driving really, really hard and side drafting and all that stuff and I got a little aggressive on the entry and then we were a little bit free on the last run and then a combination of the air and just me driving it a little bit too deep sent us around and unfortunately we collected the 24 (Justin Haley). You know it was the last thing I wanted was to wreck another guy, especially someone I was just racing really hard with, so had a lot of fun, but hopefully, you know, next time we’re out we’ll be able to finish where we run. I feel like I say that a lot in the Truck Series stuff is after running really, really well, we didn’t quite get the finish we deserve, but really proud of the guys. We fought all day and got myself way better as I went, so just excited for Eldora. Kind of a different animal, but going to take what I apply – you know, as much as I can – from what I’ve learned here to there and see what we’ve got.”
M&M’s 200 Recap:
- John Hunter Nemechek won the race followed by Johnny Sauter, Brandon Jones, Grant Enfinger and KBM’s Christopher Bell rounded out the top-five finishers.
- The race featured four cautions for a total of 34 laps. There were five lead changes among five drivers. KBM’s Christopher Bell led 99 laps and Noah Gragson led 16.
How Burton’s KBM Teammates Fared:
- Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished sixth
- Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 4 Toyota, finished fifth
NCWTS Owner Championship Standings:
The No. 51 Toyota Racing team remains sixth in the Truck Series Owner Championship Standings.
Next Race:
Myatt Snider will pilot the No. 51 Toyota Tundra when the Truck Series returns on Thursday, July 6, at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. Live coverage of the Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 begins with the NCWTS Setup Show at 7 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.
