Harrison Burton Among Young Talent Entered In Saturday’s Lucas Oil Raceway (Indy) Event

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Over the years, the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has had a large number of graduates move from their series into successful careers among the top three levels of NASCAR.  Most believe this year will be no different, as the entry lists throughout the 2018 season have boasted many talented young drivers who have bright futures in racing.  Fans will get to see plenty of that talent on track this weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway, in Indianapolis, as Saturday’s Shore Lunch 200 presented by Load Trail will have a long list of potential winners, led by Harrison Burton.

Harrison Burton, the son of retired NASCAR racer, Jeff Burton, has had what many would call a good career already, winning numerous Super Late Model races, five NASCAR K&N Series races and the 2017 championship, a championship during the World Series at New Smyrna, and two races with the ARCA Racing Series, Toledo in 2017 and Pocono this year.  Burton also has two top five’s in just four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts this season.  The 17-year old, who will turn 18 on Tuesday, will also be competing with the NASCAR K&N Series at Dover on Friday night.

Californian, Sheldon Creed, looks to be on his way to the 2018 championship and has three wins this year.  That said, none of the three wins came on one of ARCA’s typical short tracks.  Creed has found victory lane at Michigan, Gateway, and Iowa.  He does have some solid short track finishes, though, with top fives at Nashville, Salem, and Madison.  Those finishes have propelled him into the Sioux Chief Short Track Challenge lead.  Creed is a well-versed driver, racing not only in ARCA but sports cars and off road trucks.

Second place point man and fellow Californian, Zane Smith, will definitely be one of the favorites Saturday night.  Smith has the most wins on the series with four but has also had some bad luck which has put him 405 points behind Creed.  Smith has wins at Nashville, Talladega, Toledo, and Pocono.  Smith, who came onto the racing scene strong in 2015 when he won the Super Late Model World Series championship at New Smyrna, has a top five finish to his credit in his only NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start.

One driver to keep an eye on will be Wheeling, WV’s Travis Braden.  Braden won at Lucas Oil Raceway in his first ever ARCA start in 2015 but hasn’t found victory lane since.  This season is Braden’s first full run with the series.  He has four top fives in 18 starts, but more impressively, three of those top fives came in the last four starts.  The MatrixCare/Consonus Healthcare sponsored team is based in the Indianapolis area, so this race will be on their home turf.

Other young wheelmen to keep an eye on will be former Snowball Derby winner, Christian Eckes, Gibbs Racing driver Riley Herbst, and Chandler Smith, who has won two races in eight starts this year.  Natalie Decker, Gus Dean, Sam Mayer, Thad Moffitt, Michael Self, Joe Graf, Jr., and Carson Hocevar are also drivers vying for the Shore Lunch 200 trophy. 

Fans wishing to attend Saturday’s event can get discount advance sale tickets at Indianapolis area Menards locations for just $20 each.  If not in the Indianapolis area, tickets are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200 or by purchasing at the gate on raceday.

Pit gates open Saturday at 10:00 AM, grandstands open at 1:30 PM, Thunder Roadster practice is at 1:30, ARCA practice from 2:00-3:30, Thunder Roadster heats are at 3:45, ARCA General Tire pole qualifying is at 4:15, and the Thunder Roadster feature is at 5:00.  An on track driver autograph session will be held from 5:30-6:30, leading up to the Shore Lunch 200 at 7:00.

Full information on the event can be found at www.trackenterprises.com, www.arcaracing.com, or www.lucasoilraceway.com.  

LOR PR

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