Last Lap Incident Leaves Burton with a 12th-Place Finish at Bristol Motor Speedway

Jeb Burton and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) put on an impressive show under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) in Wednesday’s UNOH 200. Making multiple adjustments throughout the day, the No. 4 Arrowhead Chevy landed outside the top 10 in both practice sessions and qualified 18th, despite a spin during the warm-up lap. Burton remained patient during the race and managed to fight his way into the top 10 just before a last-lap incident forced the No. 4 truck into the wall, resulting in a 12th-place finish and one-position drop inthe NCWTS Driver Point Standings.

 

Tweaking the handling throughout the first practice session, the No. 4 Turner Scott Motorsports (TSM) team made numerous adjustments to correct the truck’s tightness, placing Burton in 14th position on the speed charts. During the second practice session, Burton reported a slight chatter in the front nose, leading the No. 4 crew to another adjustment; one they felt was a game-changer. With only minutes remaining, Burton returned to the track, feeling comfortable for the first time of the day. As Burton prepared to make his qualifying run, however, the No. 4 truck got loose in Turn 2, causing him to spin. Burton avoided contact with the wall and resumed his qualifying run, laying a time of 15.630 seconds, placing him to start in 18th position for the UNOH 200.

 

As the green flag dropped at what’s known as the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” track, the action quickly led to the first caution of the night on lap three. Burton reported to crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. that his No. 4 Chevy Silverado felt a bit free on entry but controllable. By lap 35, Burton had climbed his way into the top 15 and, according to spotter Kevin Hamlin, was running smooth and hitting his marks flawlessly. The No. 4 team was able to make adjustments on lap 71 as the second caution came out, pitting for four new tires and fuel, along with a slight air-pressure and track-bar adjustment. Jumping to the 11th position, the third caution of the night arose on lap 83 as Burton reported that the No. 4 truck felt a little off balance. At the halfway mark of the UNOH 200, the Arrowhead Chevy had fought its way into the top 10 but dropped back to 13th position after a tight battle with Ty Dillon and Dakota Armstrong on lap 157.

 

With less than 30 laps remaining in the UNOH 200, the fourth caution flag of the night came out on lap 179 and Burton quickly relayed that his Chevy truck was way too tight. The No. 4 team pitted for four new tires, fuel and a slight track-bar adjustment, leaving pit road in 12th position and receiving the Lucky Dog. In true Bristol fashion, the final 10 laps were action-packed, with the fifth caution of the night dropping on lap 190, leaving only seven laps for the field to gain track position. As Burton quickly climbed to ninth position, the field began to race three wide. Unfortunately, on the final lap, Burton was collected by Ron Hornaday Jr. and his Arrowhead Chevy was forced into the wall, ending their night with a 12th-place finish and a disappointing points drop.

 

“It’s just really disappointing,” said Burton. “We gave it all we had tonight and to see it end like this, it’s just tough. It was out of our control. We wanted a top 10 and we should’ve had it.”

 

Trailing only four points behind TSM teammate James Buescher, Burton lands in third-place in the NCWTS Driver Point Standings following his finish at BMS. Burton also dropped to second-place in the Rookie of the Year standings, which he has led all season.

 

Hoping for redemption, Burton and the NCWTS will make their 2013 road course debut next weekend at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park for The Chevrolet Silverado 250 on Sunday, September 1 live on FOX Sports 1 at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

 

TSM PR