Harrison Burton dominated Sunday’s SpeedFest 200 Super Late Model race at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, Georgia, as the second generation driver scored the victory in the ARCA/CRA Super Series season opener.
The 16-year-old took the lead on lap 22 of the 200 lap event from pole sitter Erik Jones, and went on to control the pace for most of the rest of the way en route to the biggest win of his young career.
Only twice would Burton, the son of former NASCAR driver and NBC Sports commentator Jeff Burton, give up the top spot. The first came after a round of pit stops on lap 106. He would take back the lead two laps later.
The second came on a lap 132 restart, when Jones battled with him for the lead. Twice Jones would lead at the line before Burton charged to the lead for the final time on lap 135.
Jones would settle for second, with Stephen Nasse turning in a strong run over the final 100 laps to finish in third. Zane Smith came home in fourth, followed by Chase Purdy in fifth.
Snowball Derby winner Christian Eckes, Jeff Choquette, Chandler Smith, Casey Roderick and Raphael Lessard rounded out the top ten.
Earlier in the day, Lawrenceville, Georgia’s Casey Roderick powered to the victory in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Pro Late Model portion of SpeedFest 2017.
It’s the second PLM victory of the season for Roderick behind the wheel of Georgia Racing Hall of Famer Ronnie Sanders’ No. 18 Ford, the first coming earlier this month at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway.
While Roderick drove to the win in the 125 lap feature, Jasper, Georgia’s Chandler Smith and Cole Williams battled it out for second. Williams would prevail to take the spot, with Smith in third.
Andy Bozzell came home in second, with Jack Dossey III following in fifth.
Ryan Paul, Kyle Ivey, Ryan Herbert, Dalton Grindle and Phil Bozell rounded out the top ten.
Up next for the ARCA/CRA Super Series is a trip to Tennessee’s Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville on April 7-8, while the JEGS/CRA All-Stars return to action on April 30 at Baer Field Motorsports Park in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
For more information, visit CRA-Racing.com.
ARCA/CRA Super Series
Watermelon Capital Speedway – Cordele, GA
SpeedFest 200 (Unofficial) – Jan. 29, 2017
1. 12 Harrison Burton
2. 20 Erik Jones
3. 51 Stephen Nasse
4. 77 Zane Smith
5. 97P Chase Purdy
6. 15 Christian Eckes
7. 9C Jeff Choquette
8. 26S Chandler Smith
9. 7 Casey Roderick
10. 99 Raphael Lessard
11. 33 Brandon Jones
12. 83 Scotty Ellis
13. 9 Chris Dilbeck
14. 10 Steve Dorer
15. 26 Bubba Pollard
16. 5 Jerry Artuso
17. 84 Martin Latulippe
18. 6 Brandon Setzer
19. 14 Connor Okrzesik
20. 29 Spencer Davis
21. 4M Kyle McCallum
22. 15T Austin Thaxton
23. 01 Derek Scott, Jr.
24. 8 Jordan Pruitt
25. 23 Spencer Gallagher
JEGS/CRA All-Stars
Watermelon Capital Speedway – Cordele, GA
SpeedFest 125 (Unofficial) – Jan. 29, 2017
1. 18 Casey Roderick
2. 46 Cole Williams
3. 26 Chandler Smith
4. 83 Andy Bozell
5. 20 Jack Dossey III
6. 18P Ryan Paul
7. 53 Kyle Ivey
8. 21 Ryan Herbert
9. 23 Dalton Grindle
10. 04 Phil Bozell
11. 38 Hunter Byrd
12. 34 Nolan Pope
13. 114 Sterling Marlin
14. 10 Steve Dorer
15. 12 Joe Graf, Jr.
16. 22 Brandon Herbert
17. 30 Joshua James
18. 48 Kent Crane
19. 9 Chris Dilbeck
20. 14 Carson Hocevar
21. 43 Justin South
22. 24 Christopher Tullis
23. 30K Bobby Knox, Jr.
24. 11 Jordan McCallum
25. 127 David Strode
26. 32 Stuart Dutton
27. 25 Terry Smith
28. 27 Joe Ross
