Gene Burd in Spotlight at Hamlin Speedway Winners Circle
By:Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media

 

While thunderstorms in the immediate surrounding area kept the weather picture unpredictable, the highly successful Hamlin Speedway promotional team of Randy and Denise Smith threw caution to the wind and rolled the dice to present another spectacular and entertaining racing card for the great fans and the seven divisions of racing talent that filled the Hamlin Speedway speed arena last evening.  With 133 entries signed in to do battle at the Smith Family's Pocono Mountains playground , the racing format changed to round robin time trials and feature events as the top-notch race staff quickly amended the racing card and presented an exciting show that showed excellent competition in all racing divisions. Read More

 

Gene Burd making the move to Sprint Cars

By Dino Oberto …. “Keeping Track”

 

            As a driver of micro sprints, 21-year old Gene Burd had a number of tracks to race at that are within a reasonable drive of his Wapwallopen home. He’s run at Greenwood Valley where he earned a kart title in 2004, Selinsgrove Raceway Park, Linda’s Speedway and a few others but his choice over the past two seasons was Hamlin Speedway near Scranton. It was a judgment call that paid off as he won the 2010 270cc championship aboard his family owned mount.

“That was a goal. I had started going to Hamlin the year before and we ran very well and consistent there and that helped make my decision to come back last year,” said Burd.

“It was great to be able to win that title. I feel that Hamlin probably had the closest competition next to say Linda’s (Speedway) which I believe has the most competitive cars in 270 Micro Sprints in the Northeast.

            “At the time we felt it was the best place to run in our area that we could afford to race at. Hamlin was pulling in at least 30 cars each week so you really had to work at making the show. You get a lot of cars from all over.”

            Burd raced to three feature wins and beat Nunzi Allegrucci who had won the previous two championships.

            He had all intentions to return and defend his title and with two cars at the ready plus enough extras on hand the odds were in his favor to repeat.

            But, in November an opportunity came around that he felt he couldn’t pass by. Growing up he had always attended the races at Selinsgrove and was a huge fan of multi-time track champ and neighbor Richie Jensen. Jensen was the king of late models and later switched to sprints.

“In 2001, Richie’s last year when he came back and ran a sprint car, I thought it was real neat to be in the pits with him and just watching him race,” said Burd.

            “I think he’s a great race car driver. When I was a kid it was my goal to be Richie Jensen. He inspired me.”

            So when the chance arose to buy a sprinter Burd made the leap of faith and is now preparing to make his debut with the class which he plans to do at Selinsgrove as well as Clinton County Raceway.

“It wasn’t until November that we made the switch to the sprint car. We had two micros ready to go with enough equipment to build two more,” he explained.

“I’ll be 21 on May 14. I’m working 50-60 hours a week and someday I plan to have a house and family and in that point in time I know I won’t be able to have a sprint car anyway so I’m doing it while I can still afford it.”

            The task at hand has been preparing for action which he hopes to see relatively soon. He credits fellow sprint racer Nyle Berkes for his direction in a number of areas with the car. Jensen also gave him some spare parts and has lent some useful advice

“As words Richie Jensen once told me, ‘Everybody is going to tell you something and sometimes it may not be the truth but you have to listen to everything that say because they just might let something slip.’

            Although Burd has lined up some solid backers which includes Busted Grafix, Bob Smith Pool Water and Fuel Service, Crispin Valve, Hobbie Garage, Knorr Hauling, Overhead Door Company and SAF Chassis, he has been instilled with an amazing work ethic and family values taught to him by his father that really make his labor of love standout.

            “Everything I’ve ever done in racing I owe all to my dad, especially last year. I’ve been very blessed and grateful. I wouldn’t be able to be doing any of this without him and the sponsors I have,” said Burd.

“I’ve worked for everything. My dad has always taught me that if you want something you work to get it. I’m very committed. I never played high school sports. Instead I worked after school to pay for a race car. This is my hobby so I feel it’s my responsibility to pay for it.”

            Burd bought the car from Chris Shuttlesworth who ran with the 358 Sprint class at Williams Grove Speedway. His first time on track will be May 11 for a practice night at Selinsgrove.

            In all likelihood though, his weekly efforts will see him race at the 1/3-mile Clinton County track.

            “From what everyone has been telling me I may be in more scuffles at Clinton County but it won’t be as bad as Selinsgrove. You may be in fewer wrecks at that track but when you do hit its most likely going to be a bad one because of the speed,” said Burd.

            That doesn’t mean he’ll keep away from Selinsgrove all together. After all that is where he first got the bug to race and became a Jensen fan so it would mean a lot for him to run there.

“The person I always looked up to in my racing career was Richie Jensen. I plan to race the car on a weekly basis whether it is Clinton County, whether it is Selinsgrove or even both in one weekend,” said Burd.

“I was originally looking at running for Rookie of the Year at Clinton County but for right now an attainable goal would be to run in the top 10 each week.”