Author’s note: In the spirit of throwback weekend, “The Underdog House” will have a one-off, new look this week. That’s right, we are throwing it back to 2016, when this column became a consistent presence on Frontstretch. Frontstretch’s Bryan Davis Keith launched the column in 2011 for two weeks before it returned five years later with our own Amy Henderson. This week will bring the past of those articles mixed with the present.
Top Dog: Harrison Burton
Wood Brothers Racing: Harrison Burton, No. 21 Dex Imaging Ford
Looking back: Kansas Speedway was not kind to Harrison Burton a week ago. After driving up into the top 15 early on in the race, Burton spun on lap 191 while avoiding a slow car. A short time later, he suffered a flat tire from right front fender damage and was relegated to a 30th-place finish. Through the first 12 races, Burton’s best finish was 15th, and he had eight finishes outside the top 20.
What happened now: It was more than a rebound for Burton at Darlington Raceway (May 14). Throwing back to his father, Jeff Burton‘s 1999 No. 99 for Jack Roush, the younger Burton looked like he had taken some notes from the elder Burton, who swept both Darlington races in 1999 and once had a streak of eight top fives in a row at the track.
Burton kept his Wood Brothers machine inside the top 15 nearly all day, finishing stage one in 11th and stage two in 15th. In the final stage, the 22-year-old flirted with the top 10 the rest of the race until his break came.
A caution for Ryan Newman with 18 laps to go stacked the field back up for a restart on lap 281. There, Martin Truex Jr. collided with Joey Logano, sparking a nine-car crash. Burton avoided the chaos, propelling him into the top 10. Another crash on the next restart saw leaders Ross Chastain and Kyle Larson wipe out, pushing Burton into the top five. From there, he held strong for the final overtime restart and came home in sixth.
This was certainly one of, if not the best performance of Burton’s young career. It’s his third career top 10 and the second-best finish of his career. The race certainly provided the momentum Burton needs, as he currently sits 30th in the points standings.
Honorable Mentions
Kaulig Racing: Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Chevrolet.
Looking back: Justin Haley had a roller coaster of a week at Kansas. He endured both a loose wheel and a flat tire by the end of the stage, leaving him two laps down….
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