By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Following 300 of his first laps racing in the Xfinity Series, Harrison Burton left more confident than ever.
The Gander Outdoors Truck Series rookie finished 10th in his Xfinity debut for Joe Gibbs Racing. After starting fifth, the 18-year-old finished fourth in Stage 1 before falling to finish eighth in Stage 2.
“We had a really good start, was running fourth or so,” Burton said. “We got way too tight in the second stage, blew a right front, got into the fence.”
Indeed, Burton brought out what was the final caution of the day when his No. 18 hit the Turn 1 wall after cutting a tire with 39 laps to go.
From there, Burton battled Noah Gragson and Zane Smith, jumping back into the top 10 to finish 10th.
“We made a rally back to where we finished,” he said. “Defintely an up-and-down day. It was a lot of fun, a crazy experience to come out and race these cars. I felt I was at home, which was good.”
With 20 prior starts in the Truck Series, Burton felt the difference between the two legs of the NASCAR ladder system.
“It was a jump,” he said. “But it wasn’t too crazy. The Truck guys are really hard to beat and there are a lot of really good trucks every weekend. It was a step up in competitiveness on a little higher level. Everything had to be perfect for you to run well.”