 | | Jeff Burton begins his first full season with Richard Childress
Racing in 2005. Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for NASCAR |
By Mark Spoor, NASCAR.COM
January 22, 2005
11:24 AM EST (16:24 GMT)
It may look like everything is different for Jeff Burton in 2005. After all, he's moved from the No. 30 Chevrolet to the No. 31 Chevy that Robby Gordon forfeited to become a driver/owner. A lot of things are different. Still, Burton says one important factor stays basically the same from late last season.  |  | JEFF BURTON | |
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"I think we changed one guy on the pit crew," Burton said. "But other than that, it's 100 percent the same group of people from last year." That's a good thing. In the 14 Nextel Cup starts Burton made since joining Richard Childress Racing last August, Burton has a top-five and three top-10s. He also garnered eight top-15 finishes in the other 11 races. Burton was 13th among Nextel Cup Series drivers in points earned during the second half of 2004. Despite the new paint scheme, he expects the momentum to not just carry over, but build in 2005. "We're focused hard on making improvements so we can be better. We've changed a lot of the things that are going on. Time will tell whether that works or not. We have a high degree of confidence whether that works or not." After 2004, the definition of what can be called a successful season has changed for every Nextel Cup team. The goal now is not just to be competitive, but to make the all-important Chase for the Nextel Cup. |  | | Richard Childress Credit: Autostock |
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Burton says his team is close to being there. "There's no doubt it's a realistic goal," Burton said. "If you look at our performance last year in the last 14 races, we would have been a top-10 team, although we're on the cusp of not being a top-10 team if we flipped over any and didn't do as well as we did last year. "We can't digress any. We only can make improvements." The same can likely be said for his RCR teammates. Kevin Harvick had a tough year in 2004, finishing 14th in the Nextel Cup standings. New mate Dave Blaney -- who'll pilot the new 07 Chevy for RCR in '05 -- briefly drove the No. 30 Chevrolet last season before Burton took the reins. Burton knows that this season, he's more than just a driver to an organization that needs a spark to keep it's reputation as an elite Nextel Cup franchise. "When I accepted the position to drive this car, I did it knowing that Richard wanted me to come in and be a leader and more than just a guy who shows up on Friday afternoon to sit in the car. "I relish that opportunity. I enjoy that opportunity. I've asked my team and Richard to keep that part of my program focused on performance." But, Burton says there's a limit to how far he'll step. "I don't want to get into how to design buildings and what color the car will be and all of that crap that I got caught up in over the past five years," he said. "I want to pay attention to what makes these cars go fast. "And, when we have an issue and we have something we need to get involved in to make these cars go fast, I want to be in the middle of it and I want to be pushing and screaming when we don't get it." This week at Daytona, things have started a little slower for Burton, but he says that's OK. "We knew coming down here that we weren't going to be blistering fast in qualifying trim. We feel really good about how our cars are going to draft and the way there's going to race. And we feel good about qualifying, too. "We have a lot of things going on between now and when we come back. Our goal was to be 18th, 19th fastest this week. I know that sounds stupid but we think we can do that ... and be in great shape (when we come back)." While the team's superspeedway package may be lacking, notes that Gordon likely left on road courses and short tracks should serve him well. "I think our short-track and road-course programs are going to be good," Burton said. "If our aero program is good and we have reliability, we're certainly going to be a top-10 team." → Click here for more 2005 driver previews. | 
