Mike Bursley Dominates JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Night Of The Stars 100 At Lucas Oil Raceway
Berlin Raceway Promoter Sweeps the Entire Night in the Circle City
Clermont, Indiana (July 26, 2013) – The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance were a part of Champion Racing Association (CRA) Powered by JEGS Night of the Stars Twin 100s with their counterparts within the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS at the immaculate 0.686 mile progressively banked paved oval of Lucas Oil Raceway, located west of Indianapolis in Clermont, Indiana on Friday, July 26th. When the fans in the grandstands left the grounds, they witnessed a domination by Mike Bursley throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
The 30-year-old Promoter of Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan took off his promoters hat and donned a full-faced helmet for the first time in 2013 and he certainly hadn't forgotten how to drive as the 2007 Super Stocks Track Champion at the facility he currently operates, wheeled his #20 KBR Development / Ford into victory lane after taking the lead from race long leader, Chad Finley on lap 65 of the 100-lap main and walked away with his second career JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour win in only three career starts. His first JEGS/CRA triumph came at Berlin on August 4th, 2012.
"I should come out of 'retirement' more often," Laughed the Holland, Michigan resident.
"This entire KBR Development Team did such a great job. All I had to do was drive the
car and man it was flawless from the moment we unloaded it off the trailer. It certainly
helps having guys like Fred Campbell, Brian Campbell, Crew Chief Henry Rosendall,
everyone. This team is top-notch. I just can't say enough about them." He added.
After Bursley won his first career Boyne Machine Company Fast Qualifier Award over the
29-car field, he then drew the minimum inversion of a three, which placed 14-year-old
Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year Presented by Howe Racing Enterprises title
contender, Jake Griffin and Chad Finley on the front row of the massive field and it would
be Finley beating Griffin and the rest of the field to the first corner to grab the early lead
while the rest of the field jockeyed for position behind him.
After sliding back to fifth on the initial start, Bursley fought his way by NASCAR star,
Kenny Wallace to reclaim fourth and then got back to his starting position and began
trailing Griffin who was on Finley's back bumper. After following the freshman Griffin for
30 laps, Bursley made his move and drove by Griffin on lap 35 and set his sights on
Finley who had pulled away from the rest of the field setting the VDL Fuel Systems Hot
Lap of the Race in the process.
Bursley pulled right up to Finley's back bumper and followed the leaders' tire tracks all over the Circle City oval when the first of only three cautions flew on lap 45 as Wallace, who had been running in fifth, slowed in turn one. On the ensuing double-file restart, Bursley tucked back in behind Finley and again trailed the leader searching for a way around. On lap 65, Bursley made his move coming out of turn four and completed the pass as they crossed the start / finish line to take over the top spot and earning the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for the effort.
From there, it was all Bursley as he slowly but surely pulled away from Finley and the rest of the field and despite a late race caution on lap 93 when Jimmy Novak slammed the front stretch wall, Bursley was up to task of holding off Finley one last time on the final restart as he beat the hard-charging Finley to the first corner and again pulled away from him and the rest of the field.
In the end, Bursley would see the checkered flag first to give him his first Win in his first start of 2013, his second career JEGS/CRA victory in three races and backing up his run at LOR during the 2012 Fall Brawl where he finished second to eventual JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Champion, Daniel Hemric. In three career JEGS/CRA starts, Bursley has two Wins and a second place finish.
"This is such a good car, especially here. When we ran it last September, it was fast then too and Brian (Campbell) has won here a bunch and the set-up on this thing is about perfect," Bursley continued. "We're so busy at the track (Berlin Raceway) but when there's a chance to get back in the seat, I'll definitely go out and run. It helps though having one of the best teams in motorsports that's for sure." He ended. Bursley pick up the Boyne Machine Company Fast Qualifier Award earlier in the afternoon over the 29-car field with a 22.164 lap which equals out to 111.424mph.
Finley came home second in his #42 G-Oil / Chevrolet and was pleased with his efforts despite not winning the race. "It was a good night for us. We led some laps and there's not a scratch on the car," The DeWitt, Michigan driver remarked after climbing out. "We were fast, but Mike (Bursley) was really good tonight. We had one more shot at him after the last caution there, but the car just got too tight." The 21-year-old added. Finley didn't leave LOR empty-handed as he collected the D.T.S. Drive Train Specialists Halfway Leader Award as well as the FLUIDYNE Cool Under Pressure Award for his efforts.
Finishing in the final podium position in third and making the most of his JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance debut was 2012 Florida Speedweeks Pro Late Models Champion, Dakota Stroup who was also making his first start anywhere for the 2013 racing season. "This car was in pieces about a week ago and I just can't say enough about this entire team. They worked so hard to even get us here," The 22-year-old from Owensboro, Kentucky said. "This was definitely a good run for us, we just need to build on it and hopefully this is a good sign for us for the rest of the year." He added. Stroup also collected the first Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award for his run.
14-year-old Spencer Davis, also making his JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour debut, made the trip from Dawsonville, Georgia count with a fourth place effort as veteran Wes Griffith Jr., completed the top five. Brandon Hermiller scored a sixth place finish ahead of Outlaw Super Late Models standout, Phil Bozell who finish seventh in a rare template bodied appearance. Jeff Cannon was eighth in his first appearance of the year as Tom Woodin was ninth and earned the second Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award after starting 17th and also moved up to second in points past Dan Leeck who finished 18th in the race. Wallace regrouped from his mishap just prior to halfway to finish off the top 10.
15-year-old Corey Deuser would earn the Howe Racing Enterprises and VDL Fuel Systems Rookie of the Race Awards as the highest finishing Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year Presented by Howe Racing Enterprises title contender as he was 12th. Current Points Leader, 17-year-old Cody Coughlin started deep in the field in 23rd and would finish 11th to pick up the Five Star Racecar Bodies Hard-Charger Award and the Racing Electronics Hard-Charger Award while 15-year-old Hunter Baize collected the Hedman Hedders Husler Award for also advancing 12 positions as he finished 15th.
After taking a weekend off, the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance returns to action with race #8 of the 2013 racing season on Saturday, August 10th at the uniquely shaped 7/16s (0.437) mile semi-banked paved oval of Auto City Speedway, located north of Flint in Clio, Michigan for the running of the Silver Bullet 100 Presented by Coors Light & JEGS.com.
For more information about all four touring series’ within Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS, please check out the website located at: www.cra-racing.com You can also follow CRA on Facebook at: www.facebook.com and search for "Champion Racing Association" as well as Twitter at www.twitter.com/CRAracing Finally for more information about Auto City Speedway, the host facility for the eighth race of the 2013 season for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance, go to the track website at: www.autocityspeedway.com
For more information about all four touring series’ within Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS, please go to the series website at: www.cra-racing.com You can also follow CRA on Facebook at: www.facebook.com and search for "Champion Racing Association" as well as Twitter at www.twitter.com/CRAracing Finally for more information about Berlin Raceway, the host facility for the seventh race of the 2013 season for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance, go to the track website at: www.autocityspeedway.com
