(Photo courtesy of Knoxville Raceway)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (Aug. 9, 2016) – Mark Burch Motorsports posted a podium finish last weekend during the 26th annual Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals.
Danny Lasoski opened the marquee event at Knoxville Raceway by qualifying third quickest during preliminary action last Thursday. He then advanced from sixth to fifth place in a heat race, which missed locking into the main event by only one position.
“Every heat is tough,” he said. “The drivers ahead of me did a great job blocking. That put us behind the eight ball. We tried a couple of things for the B Main and we won that. They stopped the car after the B Main and I hadn’t unbuckled yet when they were calling for A Main drivers to staging to try to beat the rain. I only had enough time to put tearoffs on my helmet. We didn’t get a chance to change tires.”
After winning the B Main to transfer into the main event Lasoski charged from 21st to a fifth-place result in the feature.
“Mark Burch put a phenomenal team together,” he said. “We came in two weeks prior to see how we stacked up and we had some work to do. He took his race car home and came back and it was a completely new race car. I can’t thank him enough for the hard work.”
The top-five result also earned Lasoski the Hard Charger Award for passing the most cars and it ranked the team sixth in overall preliminary points. Lasoski started Saturday’s main event on the inside of the third row.
“The track was wide and I got by (Clint Garner) for second,” he said. “I thought I was going to make a race for it. To be honest we had the second-best car.”
Lasoski maneuvered into the runner-up position and he chased eventual winner Sammy Swindell in the closing laps before ending second. The second-place finish was the best result for Lasoski and Burch at the event.
“My wife was talking about our combined ages and I think it’s 117 years old,” he said of himself and Swindell. “That just goes to show you the seasoned veterans, don’t count them out.”
Mark Burch Motorsports will take the momentum from a podium finish to the next race on Aug. 16 at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series.
“Running second at the 360 Nationals is great, but I really thought we were going to win it,” Burch said. “With that being said, I think most of our competition thought they were going to win it as well. I really want to thank Knoxville Raceway for increasing the purse and for the Dunkin family for preparing a beautiful racing surface that allowed for a lot of excitement and challenges for the lead. Congratulations to Sammy Swindell, A.G. Rains and their team for winning the race. Brian Brown and Chad Morgan brought their ‘A’ game as well. Clint Garner drove possibly the most inspired and perfect night of racing that I have ever seen on Friday. His family and team are champions and it shows. We knew last year's champion Terry McCarl with his Moyle powerplant would be on our heels as well. And to paraphrase Danny Dietrich, ‘Special props to anyone who straps in a race car any night.’
“I want to thank the Durst family and Lincoln Auto Auction, Engler Machine & Tool and Huggins Cams for all of their recent help along with Doug Wolfgang and his ever consistent Wolfweld chassis.”
In other news, Mark Burch Motorsports would like to thank everyone who supported the Team Jack Foundation by purchasing a unique t-shirt. All sales of the apparel will go to the Team Jack Foundation. The t-shirts will be available at each race Mark Burch Motorsports contests throughout the season.
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 4 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 3; Heat race: 5 (6); B Main: 1 (1); Feature: 5 (21).
Aug. 6 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Feature: 2 (5).
SEASON STATS –
6 races, 0 wins, 3 top fives, 6 top 10s, 6 top 15s, 6 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Aug. 16 at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.MarkBurchMotorsports.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mbmotorspt
TEAM JACK APPAREL –
Mark Burch Motorsports will have unique Team Jack Foundation t-shirts for sale at the race trailer throughout this season with 100 percent of the money received going to the Team Jack Foundation.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – In Memory of Bryan Clauson
“Last year at the 360 Nationals there was a game of football catch going on in the pits while the cars were unloading between a racing driver and a young fan,” Burch said. “As the throws and routes got deeper longer and the catches more challenging, I think these young men almost forgot that there was a race about to happen. There was laughter and teasing – it was all smiles. Big smiles and wide grins. As the drivers meeting was nearing the game of catch had to end and it was time for the event to get started. Twitter handles were exchanged. The driver of course would go on to run in another Indy 500 and the young man, who became a fan for life, is my son, Parker. I'm so sorry that life was ended so soon. I know this football season that Parker will be carrying BC with him on and off the field. Rarely, and I mean RARELY, do we experience people with that level of incredible talent AND humility. We all should strive to be more like BC every day. Our heartfelt condolences reach out to his family and Lauren and all of his friends and fans. He will be deeply missed, but not forgotten. Danny and I will be donating a portion of our winnings to the USAC Benevolent Foundation in honor of Bryan. Godspeed BC.”
Mark Burch Motorsports would also like to thank Engler Machine & Tool, Inc., Wolfweld Chassis, AFCO Gas Shocks by Speedway Motors, King Racing Products, Hot Dot Inc., Weld Wheels, Speedway Motors, Speedway Shock Service, Huggins Cams, Total Seal Piston Rings, Schoenfeld Headers, Joe Gibbs Driven Race Oil, Gessford Machine, Dyer’s Top Rods, Wireless Amber Alerts, Hoosier Tire, Arrow Truck Sales, Donovan Blocks, Rod End Supply, Diamond Pistons, Saldana Racing Products, MSD Ignition, Vortex Wings, S & S Welding, Inc., Sweet Manufacturing, DMI Bulldog Rears, Wulff Pumps, Red Devil Brakes, Goodridge Fluid Transfer Systems, Harris Decals, Lincoln Auto Auction and the Team Jack Foundation for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
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- Shawn Miller on Aug 09, 2016
- Article Date: 8/9/2016 by Inside Line Promotions