MADERA, California -- Burney Lamar gained three positions in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series point standings with his fifth place finish at Madera Speedway (CA) Saturday night. Even though he had second quick time in qualifying, the inversion of the top ten qualifiers put Burney on the inside of the fifth row at the drop of the green flag.
"I had a really good car last night, but man, when they invert almost half the field at the start, you really have to use up your car trying to get back to the front. Other than that, I had a good time. I got to race with my hero, MK Kanke, for a few laps, and that was fun. There was quite a bit of rubbing during the race and the cars got some tire marks on it, but nothing serious".
During the first two-thirds of the 125 lap event on the third-mile oval, Lamar maintained his position, moving his Groeniger/HPS/Tri-C/Victory Circle Chevrolet up to eighth by lap 90. Following two caution periods, on a lap 119 re-start, he was in fifth place where he took the checkered.
Saturdays finish, combined with his sixth place finish at Phoenix International Raceway last January, puts Lamar in third place in the Series point standings, forty points behind last nights winner and point leader, Jim Pettit II.
Two weeks from now, the Series moves to Mesa Marin Speedway in Bakersfield.
Burney said, "We've had some top ten finishes there, and with Mark Lundgren, my crew
chief being from there and having experience setting up cars for that track, I feel we have
a good chance at being up front".
