Martinsville Speedway was the site of Jeb Burton’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) debut more than two years ago (April, 2012) and the Halifax, Va. native’s first Keystone Light Pole Award in 2013 (April). So, to say the ThorSport Racing driver was looking for success in Saturday’s Kroger 200 would be an understatement.
Burton’s home track debut started strong when the Estes Express driver posted the quickest time in Round 1 of NCWTS pole qualifying and the ninth-fastest time in Round 2, lining the Virginia native up on the inside of the fifth row for the 200-lap race. Burton worked his way into the top-10 by lap 50 and a top-five position by lap 80 before bringing his Estes Express Toyota Tundra to pit road under caution at lap 102 for an accident in Turn 1. Crew chief Jeriod Prince called for four tires and fuel and when racing resumed on lap 107, Burton was scored in the 14th position due to pit strategy by the leaders.
As the Estes driver began to navigate his way through traffic around the half-mile oval, Burton fell victim to a five truck pile-up in Turn 2 on lap 138. Prince brought the No. 13 Tundra to pit road under caution for four tires, fuel and to repair the damage on the left rear quarter panel. Unfortunately, Burton would find himself back on pit road just three laps later to fix extensive damage on the right front fender of his Toyota Tundra after getting into someone when the No. 05 and No. 33 machines collided in Turn 1.
Burton would restart 25th with 42 laps remaining and never looked back. The skilled driver carefully navigated his way back through the tight confines of Martinsville Speedway to finish 12th behind race winner Darrell Wallace, Jr. in the 19th race on the 2014 NCWTS schedule.
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