Lamar pulls surprise, on his way to "Head of the Class"
You're a 19 year old Sacramento State Business Major, and you've never even attempted to qualify for a NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour race. So, Burney Lamar’s chances of cracking the record field of 77 entries, much less a top-10 qualifying spot in the Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway were pretty slim, right? Oh ye of little faith. Not only did Lamar, who has never driven a lap of NASCAR Southwest Tour competition, grab one of the top ten starting positions for Sunday's race, he came just a few laps short of getting a top ten finish. "We were hooked up near the end and just starting to have fun when I passed my hero Kenny (Schrader) and then came the checker." For Northern California’s 1999 Shell/Paul Oil Tri-Track Champion, who "cut his teeth" at Stockton and Altamont speedways, it capped a solid week for him. A week that included a first-day qualifying speed of 124.611
mph, good for 10th place on the starting grid. Lamar battled all day to get to the front. "We started out tight getting off but once the tires got hot on some long runs, we loosened up and went straight to the front. Unfortunately we got caught on some early cautions and got shuffled back to 18th at one point." Lamar attributes much of his success and preparedness to his October ARCA testing with Fenley/Moore Motorsports at Hickory Speedway. "I’d like to thank my crew chief, Phil Perry, the Eldorado Hotel & Casino, Izzie’s Body & Frame, and Tri-C Engines for believing in me and sponsoring me." Tentative plans are to run Sears Point in June and Phoenix again for the November race. Lamar will also be running for the USAC Western Sprint Car Championship & Rookie of the Year in 2000 (school permitting.)Thanks to -- Frank Gullum, Integrity Marketing & Promotions
