Multi-Car Crash Snaps Harrison Burton’s Top 10 Streak

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer

Harrison Burton’s top-10 streak in the NASCAR Xfinity Series is over following Saturday’s Unhinged 300 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Burton was on a 12-race streak of finishing in the top-10 dating back to Texas last November, highlighted with two wins at Fontana in March and the first Homestead race last Saturday.

That all changed with 18 laps to go when Burton ran into the back of Kody Vanderwal, causing a multi-car crash in Turn 3. Also involved in the carnage were Josh Williams, Joe Graf, Jr., Colin Garrett and Jeffrey Earnhardt.

Consequently, the wreck relegated Burton to a disappointing 32nd place result. It marked his third-ever finish outside the top-30 and the first since Kansas last October, which happened to be the last time he failed to finish in the top-10.

“It looks like we were all running the top and we were single file and they checked up really hard. I don’t know if I didn’t get checked up in time. It looks like one of them got sideways and then it was just all over,” Burton on what happened during his late-race exit.

“It’s so hard to tell what’s going on. There’s so much going on, even when you’re running single file. Just a tough day for us. We had a fast race car and trying to make moves work on the bottom. Just kind of got shuffled to the back and from then on, that’s just kind of how it went down.”

The fifth caution warranted the first of two red flags from the 113-lap race, lasting 10 minutes and 43 seconds. All drivers involved were checked and released from the care center, but two drivers appeared to be upset with the series rookie. Those two were Vanderwal and Williams.

The latter was minor as Burton said it was more of the fact the racing is what made the DGM Racing driver upset. In fact, Williams checked if he was okay before Burton responded back to him if he was alright as well.

“(Josh) asked me if I was alright and then I asked him if he was alright. He was upset about how the racing was going I guess. Me and him are fine, there’s no problems there,” said Burton.

“First thing he said was, ‘are you alright?’ That’s how you know it’s a big one is when your competitors ask if you’re okay when you get out. Just part of plate racing unfortunately, and we’ll learn from it and be better.”

Now, it’s off to Pocono Raceway for the running of the Pocono Green 225 June 28. Live coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. on FS1 as Burton and the rest of his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing squad will look to bounce back stronger than ever.

“Proud of our guys,” said Burton. “We always have fast Supras and I have no doubt that next week won’t be any different and we’ll hopefully go out and get a win.”