Keep Your Eye On Burton
Sunday, July 16th, 2006 10:38am CDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
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[thumb:347:r:s=1:l=x]After qualifying 2nd for today’s run around the ring, the press was all over how Jeff Burton’s scored the most wins at NHIS. It’s 4 if you’re keeping score. Jeff’s always been impressive here, and in more ways than just accumulating wins. However, I’m surprised that one of these runs hasn’t been mentioned. Since Burton last did it, it is a feat that hasn’t been done anywhere since.
So what is it that Jeff Burton did that was so amazing?
We take you back to September of 2000, and the Dura Lube 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. In this event, which was also the only event to ever see a restrictor plate in use outside of Daytona and Talladega, saw Bobby Labonte sitting on the pole during his Championship run. However, Labonte would never lead a lap that day. Jeff Burton made it back to the line first, and he stayed there for the remaining 299 laps. Through pit stops and all, Jeff lead all 300 laps at NHIS that day. While there was plenty of passing, it was never for the lead.
It’s quite a feat. Something that hadn’t been seen since Cale Yarborough accomplished did it in 1978 at Nashville, Tennessee. Something that hasn’t been done since, and for all we know may never be seen again.
It was quite a day for the #99 Exide Ford. Just thinking about everything that has to come together just right is incredible. One simple mistake in the pits that may have only cost 2/10ths of a second would have ruined it. However, nothing stood in the way between Jeff and his trip to Victory Lane that day.
Some said it was the plates, some say it was the track. There are a few who said that Jeff’s testing with a plate earlier on at Milwaukee, Steve Park was the only other driver to test the configuration as well, played into it. Regardless of what it was, there are so many things that had to come together that you can’t just say it was this or that.
While there have been dominating performances since, none have accomplished what Jeff did that day. It is still in the History books, and something that may very well never be seen again.
Filed Under: Nascar, Nextel Cup, Tracks
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I have to agree that the likely hood of that every happening again is pretty close to 0. Harder even then the perfect game in baseball.
Morgan said this on July 16th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
With the difference between a “zero” and a “hero” being measured in tenths of a second, the odds are highly against it. They were close then too, but several other factors played into it.
Too bad Jeff’s car faded a bit towards the end, but 7th isn’t bad by any means. He also picked up a spot in the points as well.
Luke said this on July 16th, 2006 at 10:40 pm