Jeff Burton rebounds from poor qualifying effort to finish second at Phoenix
Richard Childress Racing teammates Jeff Burton (left) and Clint Bowyer talk at Phoenix International Raceway. Burton finished second in Sunday's race while Bowyer finished seventh. // David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
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AVONDALE, Ariz. - Richard Childress Racing's Jeff Burton sees great strides being made within his team - something evident in his second-place finish in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Burton, 42, lamented his poor qualifying effort after the race - he started 36th - pointing out that that kind of start can mislead one about changes that need to be made to a car over the course of a race.
That could throw a team behind - or perhaps be the difference in almost catching the leader and being able to do so.
"It always helps to race against the guys that are leading the race because it enables you to compare yourself against them," Burton said. "You should be able to win the race with a hundred to go starting sixth. I know my numbers are off a little bit, but it's close. It's hard to use that as an excuse, as far as track position.
"But what you lose is the opportunity to compare yourself against a guy that has a shot to win the race. You get a little bit fooled about how good you are when you have maybe the fastest car on the track and you're running 15th because you're beating everybody around you. Then when you get to the top, the top guys, it gets harder. I think that's the biggest disadvantage."
Still, it's not clear that anyone would have been able to catch winner Jimmie Johnson in the race.
What is clear is the ground Burton and his Todd Berrier-led team have gained in recent weeks.
The finish was Burton's third consecutive top-10.
"I think this is fair to say, that this is the best we've run all year," he said. "Last week, you know, I know it was ninth, but I'm telling you, we won that race last week with what we had for a backup [car]. The way I felt, what we made happen with that car, we won that race. I know that's hard for you guys to understand, but that was an incredible effort last week.
"This week, you know, we honestly had a shot to win this race. So I think this for sure is the best second-place finish we had. We led a lot in [Las] Vegas and finished third. We had a shot to win that race earlier in the year. That race and this race were our best shots with the exception of the superspeedway races."
Key to those gains is Berrier.
The pair was in its third race together at Phoenix. Burton's previous crew chief, Scott Miller, has taken a new role helping run the competition department.
Burton says that he and Berrier connected from the outset.
"I have a lot of faith in Todd," he said. "I think Todd has a lot of faith in me. We're very blunt, very up front, very honest. We just go to work. He's real good about reminding me about things I need to be reminded of. He's everything I thought he was and more."
Berrier says the two are still learning about one another, gaining additional knowledge week to week.
That is helping them lay a solid foundation for the 2010 season.
"They all say somewhat the same things, just a little different ways and you’ve just got to learn by the tone of their voice or however they sense it, how big a magnitude a change you need to make," Berrier said. "And it’s just trying to learn that."
He admits that he has already had some things about Burton validated through their new relationship - especially after runs like Sunday's.
"He drives his tail off," Berrier said. "He’ll drive it sideways. He works really hard at it."
