Burton blisters field in Little Trees 300

CONCORD, N.C. -- Jeff Burton nearly lapped the entire Busch Series field Saturday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, winning the Little Trees 300 by nearly 19 seconds.

Burton now has a series leading five victories and eight top-fives in just 12 Busch Series starts, and has finished no worse than third in six straight outings.

Video: Little Trees 300 Victory Lane: Fifth win for Jeff Burton Play video Jeff Burton puts all but two cars a lap down Play video

"I just can't tell you how, when things start clicking, it's amazing how it all works," said Burton, who now was 20 career Busch Series victories. "We're making all the right decisions. We have great rhythm. It's just going really well."

It couldn't have gone any better Saturday.

Burton led a race-high 130 laps and was never threatened after the halfway point. He never dropped outside the top-10 all day long, and come time for the final pit stop on lap 164, Burton entered the pits with a seven-second advantage.

It only got better.

After that final round of stops, he'd been propelled into an 11-second advantage on second-place Michael Waltrip. From there, he took off, lapping every driver in the 43-car field aside from Waltrip and Joe Nemechek.

Parker Jr. injured  Hank Parker, Jr. suffered a sprained left shoulder in a multi-car wreck in Saturday's Little Trees 300.  Parker was examined in the infield care center, then transported via private vehicle to Carolinas Medical Center for X-rays on his left shoulder. They were negative.  Parker plans to follow up with Miller Orthopedic Clinic later this week, and hopes to race next weekend at Memphis Motorsports Park.   -- Marty Smith

"He got four (tires) and I got two and I still came out three seconds behind," Waltrip said. "I can't explain that. I know y'all are thinking that was kind of ugly. Well, you're right. It was."

Third-place finisher Nemechek cited Burton's downforce advantage -- downforce greatly assists handling characteristics -- as the major determining factor. Burton drives a Ford. Waltrip and Nemechek both use Chevrolets.

"My opinion on the deal. They're not out-motoring us. We're all close. I think you're seeing a little bit in the downforce issues," Nemechek said. "If you have a few extra pounds it makes a big difference. But he just out-handled us today. That (downforce) makes a big difference."

Points leader Greg Biffle significantly stretched his advantage in the championship battle Saturday, finishing sixth while the rest of the top five experienced trouble.

Biffle entered the event with a 127-point advantage over second place Jason Keller. He leaves with a 168-point lead. He finished sixth, a lap down to Roush running mate Burton.

	Jeff Burton has won three of the last five Busch Series races. Credit: Autostock

"It's never as easy as it looks," Burton said. "But these guys give me great cars. That last stop was awesome. I came in seven seconds ahead and left 11 seconds ahead. That's just awesome. These guys put a lot of effort into every thing they do. It's just unbelievable."

But a 19-second victory?

"To lap up to the third place car? Yeah, that's an awesome car. That is pretty unbelievable," said fourth-place finisher Jeff Green. "He should be proud of that one."