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Fuel-only stop boosts Jeff Burton to victory at Lowe's Motor Speedway

By Jared Turner - SceneDaily Staff Writer

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Article Rating: 5.0
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Jeff Burton hoists the trophy after winning the Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

David Griffin / NASCAR Scene

Jeff Burton hoists the trophy after winning the Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

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CONCORD, N.C. – Jeff Burton used a quick fuel-only pit stop to win the final race off pit road and hung on to lead the final 33 caution-free laps of Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on the way to his second Sprint Cup victory of the season.

Gillett Evernham Motorsports’ Kasey Kahne came on strong at the end to finish second after charging past Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson for that position with 14 laps to go.

Penske Racing’s Kurt Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch and Roush Fenway Racing’s Jamie McMurray completed the top five.

Johnson faded to finish sixth, followed by Roush Fenway’s Greg Biffle, Hendrick’s Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Inc.’s Mark Martin and Roush Fenway’s David Ragan.

Burton led 58 laps and jumped from fourth to second in the standings with his run.

“We were good enough when it counted,” said Burton, who moved within 69 of points leader Johnson. “Just a great night for us.”

Kahne, who won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte earlier this year, closed on Burton in the final laps but was unable to challenge for the lead.

“I tried catching him,” he said. “We did all we could and we just came up a little bit short.”

While Burton further legitimized himself as a championship contender, Roush Fenway’s Carl Edwards suffered a severe setback to his hopes of winning his first series title.

Edwards’ troubles began on lap 52 when he gave up second spot and came to pit road with a vibration. After changing right-side tires, he returned to the track in 39th, one lap down. But his problems were just beginning.

Before Edwards could put himself in position to earn the free pass, he was forced to make an even lengthier stay on pit road – 15 laps – when his Ford lost power on lap 68. After changing both ignition boxes, Edwards rejoined the race 16 laps down.

Edwards, who entered the race second in the standings, finished 33rd and fell to fourth in the points, 168 behind Johnson.

"We changed all the ignition stuff and the car worked again, so you never know what it could be there," Edwards said in describing the nature of his car's malady. "It’s pretty amazing - we have two pretty independent ignition systems and, for some reason they both quit. I just can’t believe it."

If Edwards’ title hopes were shot on Saturday, those of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth were completely shattered.

Running sixth on lap 104, Earnhardt Jr.’s night ended abruptly with a hard encounter with the Turn 1 wall resulting from a blown right-side tire. The Hendrick Motorsports driver finished 36th.

“No warning, it just popped,” said Earnhardt Jr., who remained 10th in the 12-driver Chase field but fell 354 points behind the leader. “We might have run over something. I was running about 90 percent really, not running hard at all. The car was handling pretty good – just popped a tire there.”
                                    
Kenseth’s undoing occurred on lap 194 when his Roush Fenway Ford slammed the wall near the start/finish after tangling with Yates Racing’s Travis Kvapil as both drivers tried to avoid the spinning Tony Raines machine.

Kenseth finished 41st, last among Chase contenders.

“There was just an accident I slowed down for and just got ran over from behind,” said Kenseth, who slipped two spots to 11th in the points. “We really struggled with our [car] tonight, but [crew chief] Chip [Bolin] made a lot of really good adjustments. We actually had it a lot better there. I think we were probably close to a top-10 car.

“It’s nowhere where we want to be, but it was getting better. I was just slowing up for the accident and got run over.”
 
Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Tony Stewart and Busch saw potentially race-winning runs foiled by matching penalties for entering the pits too fast during the same cycle of green-flag stops with just under 80 to go. After combining to lead 55 laps in the first half of the race, neither led again following the penalties, although Busch battled back into contention.

Chase drivers weren’t the only ones to see once promising runs go south. Red Bull Racing’s Brian Vickers led 64 laps and appeared to have a car capable of winning before a flat right-front tire sent the No. 83 Toyota into the wall.

Average Rating: 5.0

Comments

10 responses to "Fuel-only stop boosts Jeff Burton to victory at Lowe's Motor Speedway"
  1. 1
    Robert Airheart said:
    Oct 12, 2008 at 11:17 AM

    i AM SO HAPPY FOR JEFF - A REALLY GREAT AND QUIET GUY. iT'S A LONG SHOT, BUT i REALLY HOPE HE WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

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  2. 2
    Thomas Mikulski said:
    Oct 12, 2008 at 11:52 AM

    Way to go Jeff! I'm a big fan of the "Gentleman" driver and his family way too. This is the ONLY true racer that deserves this years championship. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. You give and you will receive.

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  3. 3
    Kenneth McLellan said:
    Oct 12, 2008 at 12:04 PM

    Way to go Jeff,You are a class act . Win more so we can see more of your Foxey wife KIM.

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  4. 4
    del brown said:
    Oct 12, 2008 at 1:34 PM

    Many, many congratulations to the 31 team ! A truly excellent team effort. The over-the-wall-gang got their work done in time to gain at least one spot on EVERY caution stop - possibly every pit stop. That is rare and deserves recognition. I was worried with the fuel 'gamble' - all too often it gains or holds track position that is short lived as cars with fresher tires eat up the gap then pass. But in retrospect the crew chief knew - from tire temps and wear patterns on the previous stop - the chassis was set up for near minimum tire wear. Then Jeff Burton held off the 48 car and opened up too much of a lead for the 9 car to even get very close. A true team effort and a well deserved win.

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  5. 5
    Kenneth Farley said:
    Oct 12, 2008 at 2:56 PM

    Great job Jeff. Just goes to show you that you can be nice, drive clean and still win races. Keep up the good work!

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  6. 6
    Doc Wilson said:
    Oct 12, 2008 at 4:49 PM

    Always glad when Jeff wins. As he stated on Speed, he may not be many fan's favorite, but he is most fan's second! Way to go Jeff.

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  7. 7
    said:
    Oct 12, 2008 at 5:16 PM

    All of us at Caterpillar are happy to see Jeff Burton in victory lane. We look forward to being there with you next season for many more.

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  8. 8
    Patty Webb said:
    Oct 12, 2008 at 6:22 PM

    Way to go Jeff. It was hard getting too sleep because I was so excited over his win in the Bank of America 500. He is my favorite driver and I am proud of my fellow Virginian and his team.

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  9. 9
    STEVEN SPARKS said:
    Oct 13, 2008 at 2:11 AM

    Way to go Jeff and RCR. It is GREAT to see RCR in victory Lane at any track, but especially at a track last won for RCR by the GREATEST DRIVER DALE EARNHARDT SR. I believe he won here in 1993. Thanks for bringing back a victory for RCR to Charlotte. I sure hope JJ does NOT get his 3rd championship and it goes to Burton if not Harvick or Dale JR

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  10. 10
    gwen thompson said:
    Oct 13, 2008 at 5:20 AM

    GAS AND GO. What a gret strategy. Where to go JEFF. your crew chief was INTUITIVE. GO JEFF. #31.CONGRATULATION!!!!!!!!

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