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Written by Robert Trammell
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Monday, 13 October 2008 10:02 |
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Jeff Burton inserted himself squarely into the middle of the Chase for the Sprint Cup with Saturday's victory in the Bank of America 500 in Charlotte. Burton led the final fifty-seven laps in posting his second victory of the season and first since March. He trimmed thirty points from his deficit and advanced from fourth to second in the championship standings. Burton trails leader Jimmie Johnson by sixty-nine points with five races remaining. The key to victory for the Number-31 Richard Childress Racing team was a decision to take fuel only during the final round of pit stops while other took gas and tires. The strategy enabled Burton to hold onto the lead and he maintained it to the finish, beating second-place Kasey Kahne by nearly a full second. Johnson started on the pole, led the first thirty-two laps of his race high total of sixty-seven and finished sixth. "Chase" contenders occupied just five of the ten top finishing positions including Kyle Busch, who finished fourth. Greg Biffle (seventh) and Jeff Gordon (eighth). The race included ten caution periods and there were just sixteen cars running on the lead lap at the finish.
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