It was a beautiful night for racing, it was an unbelievable turnout of support for the Burton family, and it was a night I will likely never forget!

Thank you to all the fans for all the love and support shown to the Burton family in the last 2 weeks, but especially, last night. I spoke to Jerry Burton trackside last night, he said he and his family is just "overwhelmed" by the love, generosity and support they have been given by you the fans.

A very special thank you to Ethan Barrow and his family for all their hard work to putting together a beautiful memorial tribute.

For those not in attendance last night, I will try to describe as best I can, but to be perfectly honest, words just can not describe the feelings and emotion that literally filled the entire property of the Bloomington Speedway.

I have never seen so many orange shirts, and countless Josh Burton shirts, so many pairs of FUNKY socks and all in tribute to Josh.

But the when the tribute began with Ethan Barrow, Levi Sheilds, Dakota Jackson being brought around to the front straight with the memorial banners on their sprint cars, the entire Burton family assembled on track in front of the grandstand, then a moment of silence for Josh Burton, the invocation from Butch Wilkerson, followed by the Burton family children releasing Orange and Green balloons, and the beautiful singing of the National Anthem by Carmen Caveeza, followed by a four lap tribute by Ethan, Levi and Dakota with every driver and crew lining the entire back straight and all of the safety workers, EMT's, track employee's and volunteers lining the front straight, and with every lap the fans, the workers, the drivers, the safety crews all standing holding up four fingers for the four lap tribute to Josh. At then was a fitting moment, Ethan and Levi peeled off as planned, but just as Josh Burton would have done, his good friend Dakota Jackson came around one last time and STOOD ON THE GAS in a tribute wheelie.

At this moment there where not many dry eyes in the house.

It was a fitting tribute to Josh Burton and his family, and I know for a fact it brought some joy to them knowing that so many cared so much for their son.

On behalf of the Bloomington Speedway "THANK YOU" to all the fans, drivers, crews, employee's and volunteers and especially to the Barrow family, Ethan, Levi and Dakota for everything you have done, and that did last night!

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND TOUCHING TRIBUTE!







Sprint Car Feature Finish

1. 11P Brady Short
2. 66 Jon Stanbrough
3 .38 Jeff Bland
4. 7 Jon Sciscoe
5. 5KKJordan Kinser
6. 17 Nick Bilbee
7. 68 Chase Briscoe
8. 15 Ethan Barrow
9. 3 Danny Holtsclaw
10. 35 Chris Babcock
11. 6S Josh Cunningham
12. 71 Bub Cummings
13. 70 Brandon Mattox
14. 44 Eric Edwards
15. 24P Rod Henning
16. 27K John Knepper
17. 56X Levi Shields
18. 1X Kurt Gross
19. 18C Kevin Chambers
20. 18W Tyler Waltz
21. 3X Dakota Jackson

UMP Modified Feature Finish

1. D48 Derek Groomer
2. 47T Collin Thirlby
3. T9 Ryan Thomas
4. 92C Kenny Carmichael, Jr.
5, 79D John Demoss
6. 77H Jake Humphrey
7. 92 Kenny Carmichael, Sr.
8. 28 Jeff Deckard
9. R11 Randy Tarter
10. 97 Mike Bechelli
11. 12C Bryson Clark
12. 14H Jeff Bland
13. 87 Bennie Smith, Jr.
14. 4 Jake Houts
15. 85 Bradley Sterrett
16. 53 Jason Clark
17.13C Troy Clark
18.55 Jake Byers
19. 27A Greg Amick

UMP Super Stock Feature Finish

1. 81Winston Howe
2.18 Steve Hollars
3. 04 Steve Peeden
4. 11 Chris Hillman
5. 25 Aaron Fields
6. 113 Rick Gumm
7. 15C Troy Clark
8. 0 Travis Howe
9. T15 Travis Todd
10. 2 Jack Frye
11. 5 Jim Pfeiffer Sr
12. 2X Jake Leitzman
13. 84 Steve Hawkins
14. 11M Josh Mcdaniel
15. 33B Larry Babbs
16. 7P Kyle Porter
17. X Roy Bruce, Jr.
18. 99T Tyler Loughmiller
19. 9W Dewayne Gross
20. 05J Justin Jeffries

UMP Hornet Feature Finish

1. 100 Luke Bland
2. 2G Greg Garrison
3. 07 Dan Morgan
4. 27F Felisha Deweese
5. 29J Jordan Wever
6. 20F Whitney Baldwin
7. 17 Jeremy Carpenter
8. 27X Kyle Meadows
9. L13 James Lane
10. 1M Jp Matthews
11.14 James Kirby
12. 3K Marcus Styleburg
13. 18H Chris Hanners
14. B59 Jim Bergin Jr.
15. 63 Frank Robertson
16. 55 Barbara Starnes
17. 22 Lisa Raines
18. 13R Tony Robinson
19. 69X Ester Laffin

I was not there nor have I ever been there but did see on Facebook pictures and video clips of what took place. Very touching for sure and a job well done for a very sad situation. One thing that I thought was neat was the wrap on Derek Groomer modified to match Josh's wrap from his sprint car. Then on top of that seen he picked up the win for his friend Josh then gave Burton family the trophy. From every pic, video I seen from last night was great. Hope it helped bring a little comfort and peace to everyone that witnessed the accident take place then all officials and safety crews to fans drivers and family. Hope that's the last for any track to have to go through.

Posted via Mobile Device

Although it was a very sad occasion it warmed the heart to see the love and caring that the fans and drivers have for one another. A very touching night and not a dry eye in the house during the ceremony. There were plenty of choices of places to see a race last night but I wouldnt have wanted to be anywhere else.