Chris Burns picked up his first career Late Model Stock Car victory at Carteret County Speedway’s season opener back in April. Now, he’s looking to back it up with another big win in the Interstate Batteries Memorial Classic on Sunday.
Burns, 24, from Swansboro, North Carlina picked up that first career victory in Carteret County Speedway’s season opener back on April 30th after prevailing in a classic duel with Joshua Yeoman. This weekend, the competition will be stiffer as Carteret County Speedway is expecting its largest car counts ever.
“I hope we can repeat,” Burns said. “I think we’re in good shape. We’ve got a different motor than we ran the first race with. We came out and tested last Sunday and we were really strong. We’ll make some more adjustments and I think we’ll pick back up some more. I think we’ll be sitting good even with everyone coming.
“I know we have some strong guys coming. Clay Jones, Jeff Oakley, all those guys are going to be strong but I think we’re in good shape.”
Despite only having four cars at the season opener, the racing was intense and aggressive in the 60 lap dash. Burns expects he will have to be even more aggressive in Sunday night’s 75 lap, $2,500-to-win shootout.
“I think, with the competition that’s coming, you’re definitely going to have to be aggressive to win the race here Sunday,” Burns commented. “I think that goes for everybody, not just me. Everyone who’s coming is very strong so you’re going to have your hands full.”
Burns’ main competition will likely be Goldsboro, North Carolina’s Clay Jones. Jones, who has been racing in the Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) Super Late Model Tour, will be making his first start in a Late Model Stock Car this season. Last September, in Carteret County Speedway’s inaugural race, Jones scored the victory and he enters Sunday’s race as the proverbial favorite.
“Clay’s a wheelman,” Burns stated. “He’s fast everywhere he goes. I know he hasn’t been in his car in a little while but he’s going to be as strong as ever.”
Burns, who isn’t worried about points and just wants to win races, feels more confident than ever after scoring his first Late Model victory. He had come close several times before at the now-defunct Coastal Plains Raceway oval track in Jacksonville, North Carolina as well as at Myrtle Beach Speedway in South Carolina.
“We’re definitely going to try to carry the momentum we’ve got now throughout the year and try to finish out the year strong,” Burns explained. “We’re going to run here every race. We’re going to try Myrtle Beach and even take it to Greenville-Pickens Speedway for a race. We’ll see what we can do and we’ll try to run well everywhere we go.”
The Inaugural Interstate Batteries Memorial Classic at Carteret County Speedway will commence on Sunday night. The event will be the fourth race ever held at Carteret County Speedway, which is located just a few miles away from Emerald Isle, North Carolina.
