It was supposed to be an off weekend for Harrison Burton, the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series driver. However, Burton got a call late Saturday night and flew to Salem, Indiana to substitute for Christian Eckes. Eckes had fallen ill and was unable to compete in Sunday’s ARCA Menards Series race at Salem Speedway.
With the driver change to the No. 15, Burton had to drop to the rear of the field and start last. It didn’t take him long, however, to maneuver through the field.
As early as Lap 22, he was already in the top 10 and was running ninth on Lap 40. Burton was relatively quiet throughout the race but he fell one lap down on Lap 68 and never could get it back.
Right at the halfway mark, the skies opened up and the race was called official. Burton and the No. 15 JBL Audio Toyota ultimately finished eighth.
“It was 11:30 p.m. last night,” Burton told MAVTV. “I got a phone call and was told you need to come to Salem tomorrow. So I hate that I’m here for my buddy, my best friend Christian (Eckes) who is not feeling great right now, bouncing around from hospital to hospital.”
“My thoughts are with him (Christian Eckes) and I wanted to do well for him. I was a little disappointed on how that first little stint went.”
