Christopher Bell fills in for Harrison Burton at Bristol

Harrison Burton withdrew from tonights Bristol race due to illness

Harrison Burton has run three NCWTS events in 2018. Two of those have resulted in a top-5 finish.

Tonight, the NASCAR Truck Series hosts their regular season championship race. Harrison Burton was scheduled for the event. However, he has not been cleared by doctors to run the event.

Christopher Bell will step into the seat. Bell is the 2017 Truck Series champion but he’s moved up to the Xfinity Series for 2018.

This will be Bell’s first start in the NCWTS for 2018. Bell was 3rd quickest in the opening round of practice. He was also 3rd in 1-lap averages.

In final practice, Bell fell to 12th on the overall times sheet. However, he remained 3rd in 10-lap averages.

KBM Announcement

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) announced Wednesday that Christopher Bell will drive the No. 51 Hunt Brothers Pizza Tundra in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday.

Harrison Burton was scheduled to compete, but was forced to withdraw due to an illness.

Bell won the 2017 NCWTS championship with KBM. In his 53 starts in the Truck Series, he earned seven wins, 26 top-five and 41 top-10 finishes. This season he is competing full time in the XFINITY Series for Joe Gibbs Racing and has already accrued four wins in 2018 (and one in 2017).

“It will be great to get back in a Tundra with KBM at Bristol, but wish it was under better circumstances,” Bell said. “I hope Harrison feels better soon and I’m hoping I can get the Hunt Brothers Pizza Tundra into Victory Lane on his behalf Thursday night.”

“I have been driving since I was four years old and have never missed a race,” Burton said. “I hate to let down my guys, but my doctors just don’t believe I’m ready. Having to miss this race will give me even more motivation to come back even stronger in Canada next week.”

Burton is still scheduled to drive the No. 51 Tundra in five more races for KBM this season, including next weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

More

Related: Kyle Busch isn’t sure about the NASCAR medical staff forcing drivers to sit out

Related: Noah Gragson wasn’t cleared to race at Pocono Raceway

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Harrison Burton | Christopher Bell | Kyle Busch MotorsportsBristol Motor Speedway | NASCAR

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