Date: June 16, 2018
Event: M&M’s 200 (Race 9 of 23)
Series: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Location: Iowa Speedway in Newton (0.875-mile oval)
Format: Three Segments; 60 laps/60 laps/80 laps
Start/Finish: 1st / 3rd (running, completed 200 of 200 laps)
Winner: Brett Moffitt of Hattori Racing (Toyota)
Seventeen-year-old Harrison Burton earned his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) pole position at Iowa Speedway and led the field for the first 30 laps of the 175-mile race. After an issue at the end of Stage One which sent him to the rear of the field, Burton battled back to earn a career best third-place finish in his Morton Buildings Tundra.
Stage One Recap:
- Burton started from the pole and led the first 30 laps of the M&M’s 200.
- He finished the first 60-lap stage in third, but had an issue trying to restart his Tundra. He coasted to pit road before the pits opened to fix the problem, which sent him to the tail of the lead lap to start the second stage.
Stage Two Recap:
- Burton restarted back in 22nd place, but did not stay there for long. Within 10 laps he was up to 12th and got back into the top 10 by lap 91.
- By the end of Stage Two on lap 120 he was in eighth place. Since he had pitted just before the stage ended, he moved up to third place to start the final stage.
Stage Three Recap:
- Burton started the final 80-lap stage in third place. His Morton Buildings Tundra was a bit tight and he fell back to fourth.
- Burton battled veteran driver David Gilliland for third for several laps and eventually got by him with 21 to go.
- With 15 laps remaining, Burton was gaining on first and second. As the laps wound down, he was in perfect position if the two trucks ahead of him got into each other fighting for the lead.
- Coming to the checkered flag, KBM teammate Noah Gragson made his move but could not hold off the eventual winner, Brett Moffitt. Burton crossed the line third for his best career finish in the NCWTS.
Harrison Burton, driver of the No. 51 Morton Buildings Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:
How were you able to battle back to finish third tonight:
“It could’ve been better obviously. We had a great Morton Buildings Tundra and I made a mistake and didn’t know how to reset the truck once it was turned off, the ECU — the computer. I’m trying to get used to it, trying to learn as much as I can. I just made a mistake, but had a lot of fun racing out here. It was cool to run up on the top and on the bottom. What a race for the fans. It was awesome. Noah (Gragson) just drove it off in there and it reminded me of Carl Edwards back in the day a long time ago. That was cool. I was hoping they (Gragson and Moffitt) were going to get into it and I could sneak by, but it just wasn’t our day. We’ll move on and get better and win the next one.”
M&M’s 200 Recap:
- Brett Moffitt won the race followed KBM’s Noah Gragson and Burton, David Gilliland and Johnny Sauter rounded out the top-five finishers.
- The race featured six cautions for a total of 44 laps. There were seven lead changes among seven drivers. Burton led 30 laps, KBM’s Noah Gragson led seven and Christian Eckes led four.
How Burton’s KBM Teammates Fared:
- Todd Gilliland, driver of the No. 4 Toyota, finished 29th
- Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished 2nd
- Christian Eckes, driver of the No. 46 Toyota, finished 8th
NCWTS Owner Championship Standings:
The No. 51 team remains second in the Truck Series Owner’s Championship Standings, 70 points out of first.
Next Race:
Riley Herbst makes his NCWTS debut in the No. 51 Tundra when racing action resumes on Saturday, June 23 at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Ill. Live coverage of the race begins at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1. Burton’s next race in the No. 51 will be at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 16.
