Jeff Burton will start the Chase eighth next Sunday at Loudon. Credit: Autostock

Burton regains swagger with Chase on horizon

Despite late-race troubles, veteran regains confidence, respect

RICHMOND, Va. -- Asked for possible reasoning as to why his team runs so stout early in races only to fade in the mid-to-late stages, Jeff Burton was characteristically matter-of-fact:

First, that must change. Second, perception isn't always reality.

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"Some of that is we're qualifying well. We may not be quite as good as we look," Burton said, sucking on Coca-Cola, leaning against a piping hot No. 31 Chevrolet.

"I know that sounds ridiculous, but sometimes track position makes you look a little better than you are."

Backwards as it sounds, track position also has a way of hindering progress.

Being ahead can get you behind.

"Sometimes when you're as fast as they've been at the beginning of races you get behind on your car, because you're out in clean air," Kevin Harvick, Burton's RCR teammate and winner of Saturday's Chevy Rock & Roll 400, said.

"When you're able to run in a little bit of traffic and make the adjustments that you need to make to run better, I think that's somewhat of an advantage towards the end of the race."

It's the old 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it' thing.

"Sometimes you get out there and lead and think, 'Man, I don't want to touch my car,' and everybody else is making adjustments," Harvick said.

"[The 31 team] have been in that position a couple times, and haven't had the chance to make their car better when everybody else was."

Burton is just glad to be back up front at all.

Chase for the Nextel Cup Unofficial Standings Pos. Driver Behind 1. Matt Kenseth Leader 2. Jimmie Johnson -5 3. Kevin Harvick -10 4. Kyle Busch -15 5. Denny Hamlin -20 6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -25 7. Mark Martin -30 8. Jeff Burton -35 9. Jeff Gordon -40 10. Kasey Kahne -45 • Complete standings, click here Points leaderMatt Kenseth decribes how it feels to be the points leader Five points outJohnson assesses his title chances as he enters the Chase Missing the cutTony Stewart on missing the Chase after his day at Richmond Race Rewind - RichmondWatch a condensed version of the Chevy Rock & Roll 400! Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

When a polished career at Roush Racing began to fade he left for RCR, which hadn't fared well of late in its own right.

Burton hadn't been steeply competitive in some time, and thus couldn't be certain respect for his talent hadn't waned in the garage.

"I've run like crap for three years in a row," he said. "I care a great deal what my peers think about me. It's hard to run 20th and expect Jeff Gordon to respect you."

Gordon's respect never wavered.

"There's no doubt the thought goes through everybody's minds: you remember the times he was with the 99, and I remember battling with him for a lot of race wins, championships. And it seemed to fall off," Gordon said.

"I never [thought] for a second that it was Jeff Burton. I feel like he's always been one of the top drivers, and I hate it for him. It seemed like it was there and they were right on the edge of winning a championship. And then it was gone. You didn't even hear about him.

"It was a bold move on his part to make the move to RCR. Obviously that's paid off. I've never had a lack of respect for Jeff, because I've battled too hard with him over the years. I know what type of competitor he is."

Burton hasn't been feeling well, said the past 10 days have been miserable, possibly the worst he's felt in his life. Flu bug. Sinus infection, maybe. And night racing makes him especially salty.

"I've been sick as hell. It's been ugly," he said. "And I hate night racing. You have to sit around all day. Now we've got to start running better, haven't run as well as we need to. But damn I'm glad to be here."

Yeah, Chasing the Cup is a fine, fine remedy, indeed.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.