Inside Line Promotions – ALVIN, Texas (Dec. 3, 2020) – Trey Burke didn’t really know what to expect in 2020 during his first significant time running on asphalt.
It turns out Burke is a quick study. He picked up the nuances of racing on asphalt and showed that he has a bright career in front of him.
Burke, who also competed sparingly in a sprint car in the dirt-track ranks, shined on asphalt under both the Lucas Oil School of Racing and Formula Race Promotions banner. He won a pair of events in Lucas Oil competition and backed it up with an FRP victory in the season finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
In between, Burke was a force despite having less experience than most of his competitors. He finished sixth in the Lucas Oil School of Racing championship standings and produced four top-five finishes and a win in six races with Formula Race Promotions running an F1600 car.
“I think that although it was a really crazy year, it was probably one of my best years of racing, just because of the amount of knowledge I gained and the skills I learned from other people,” Burke said. “I made a lot of friends, which is good, and I’ve had a lot of fun.
“Racing has its really high highs and really low lows, but even in those low times we were able to make the most of it and come away with a really good year.”
It didn’t take long for Burke to get acclimated to his surroundings in the F2000 car with the Lucas Oil series, which is two divisions lower than Indy Lights. In his second race at the NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Ky., Burke landed his first top finish and he backed it up with a trip to Victory Lane in the weekend finale.
Burke added another top-five finish at the New Jersey Motorsports Park during the second stop on the schedule. Four races later, the 16-year-old driver was back at the top of the podium with a win at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Ill.
Like any young driver in a new series, Burke had a learning curve, and that also showed in his results. He struggled a bit after his second win, but he learned a lot as a driver and bounced back to finish the Lucas Oil School of Racing season strong with two top-five finishes at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla.
“There were a few times when something would happen and I would doubt my abilities,” he said. “Sometimes it took Jeff Sinden sitting me down and saying, ‘No, you are fine.’ He would point out things that happened, and he was always right.
“I realized there was no reason to beat myself up over little things I either couldn’t control or things that are racing incidents. I think that helped me out throughout the year. Even if it happened three or four times, that’s a lot because you’ve got to get back in the car. Having Jeff there to tell me that I was okay was huge.”
It paid off when Burke joined Rice Race for the last six races of the Formula Race Promotions season. The Texas driver adapted to the F1600 and finished fifth and fourth in his first two outings at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
That confidence carried over to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Burke placed sixth and third in the first two main events before polishing off his biggest victory of the season in the series’ season finale.
“It’s close, but I think the last race when we were at Road Atlanta,” Burke said in reference to his biggest moment of 2020. “I think it’s because it took everything I learned throughout the year and putting it all together to get a clean win.
“A close second came at the beginning of the year in our third race at Kentucky in the rain that I won. I think that proved to everyone else that we were a contender and are here to win. That set the tone for the rest of the year.”
Burke made a strong impression and he hopes to carry that success into next season. The plan is to start off with some early season testing and continue his sprint car efforts. The young driver and his supporters will also look at putting together a road course racing schedule to further his promising career.
“This year gave me a lot of confidence,” he said. “I think we have turned some heads. It helps knowing we have the crew and the people to do well, and I think I can work on myself driver-wise. I think I can adapt with the help of everyone and next season can be a really good year.”
SEASON STATS –
32 races, 3 wins, 16 top fives, 25 top 10s
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://treyburke.myracepass.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/treyburkeracing
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treyburkeracing/
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Dooling Machine Products
Dooling Machine Products is a machine shop located in Freeport, Texas, that specializes in rotating equipment. For more information, visit http://www.DoolingMachine.com.
“My grandfather has known Joe Dooling’s dad for a long time,” Burke said. “They raced together and so our families go way back. My dad and Joe are good friends and our families are close. Joe has helped my racing career and we’re grateful for the support from the Dooling Family.”
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
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To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.