JACKSONVILLE, NC – Chris Burns will be competing in a proverbial triathlon at New River All-American Speedway, racing in five feature races across three divisions.
Burns, 30, from Swansboro, North Carolina, will make his second career appearance in the Grand National Super Series doubleheader just a few months removed from a pair of runner-up finishes in the series’ 2022 finale at Carteret County Speedway. On top of running for 100 laps in the headline event, he will also compete in twin-25 lap races in the NASCAR-sanctioned Super Truck division and will begin his busy racing evening in the 25-lap INEX Legends race.
“We’re going to go out there and have fun,” Burns said. “It would be nice to win at least once in every class. Five will be the most races I’ve ever done, but I’ve done quite a bit in one night at Jacksonville.”
Burns will be racing for Bob Schact in the Grand National Super Series, the same team he raced with at Carteret County in October. Last year, 10-time ARCA Menards Series champion Frank Kimmel picked up a pair of victories at New River driving for Schact.
“Hoping we can make it one spot better and bring home a win,” Burns commented. “It’s a little different than what we’re used to, more horsepower but horsepower always feels better. It’s got four wheels and a steering wheel so it’s all about the same really.”
Last September, Burns scored a runner-up finish in a Legend Car after battling with division standout Chase Singletary in a thrilling duel that saw the two drivers swap the lead 10 times over the course of 25 laps. Burns is a graduate of the U.S. Legend Cars and INEX ranks, competing in events such as the Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway when he was younger.
“I don’t know who all is coming this weekend, but we hope the race will be just as good, if not better,” Burns explained. “The Legend Car is probably the easiest of the three to drive. I feel like we’ve got a decent car for that, shouldn’t have to work on it too much. Same with the Super Truck, and I know Bob Schact will be bringing a good piece too. Should be a little bit of tweaking and no major work.”
In total, if Burns is running at the end of each feature race he competes in, he will run 175 laps on the weekend, not counting caution laps or overtime.
“At the end of the day, it’s driving racecars,” Burns stated. “The perfect weekend, really. The more laps, the better.”
After this weekend, Burns will turn his attention to his Late Model Stock Car with plans to race it at New River All-American Speedway and at Dominion Raceway in Thornburg, Virginia – along with a handful of other tracks and races. He says he is not racing for points, but just to have fun, but could decide to compete in the Race for the Championship at New River.
“We might end up running for a championship with the playoff deal,” Burns remarked. “We just want to race for fun, not be somewhere every single weekend and making it another job.”
The Spring Duel, which features 10 feature races, will commence at 7pm on Saturday at New River All-American Speedway in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Tickets are available online at newriverspeedway.com/tickets and at the gate (cash only) for just $10.
New River All-American Speedway is Jacksonville’s Action Attraction featuring racing and other events. For more information about New River All-American Speedway, check out the speedway’s website, like/follow “New River Speedway” on Facebook, follow @newriverswy on Twitter, or follow the track on Instagram.
