Engine problems lead to 43rd-place finish for Burton

RICHMOND, Va. -- Jeff Burton, of all people, ought to know a Nextel Cup championship isn't won in the first 10 races of the season -- especially in the Chase for the Nextel Cup era.

But the home-state favorite from South Boston, Va., could be excused for being bitterly disappointed that the engine in his No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet broke after just 139 of 400 laps in Sunday's Crown Royal presents the Jim Stewart 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

Lap-by-Lap

Jeff Burton had engine problems early but his teammates put together top-10 runs in the Crown Royal presents the Jim Stewart 400 at Richmond on Sunday.

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Burton finished 43rd while defending Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson won the fourth Car of Tomorrow race this season. Current point leader Jeff Gordon was fourth.

Burton, like most true racers, competes to win events. So after he roared from his paltry 39th starting position to 25th by Lap 37 and then into the top 10 only five laps later, he had high hopes of making it to Victory Lane.

But less than 100 laps later, his car was in the garage and Burton's spirits were momentarily in the trash. He exited his car and flung a water bottle. He gave a short statement to the live TV broadcast and little more to a throng of print, radio and local TV reporters: 50 words, to be exact.

"You just can't win championships like this," Burton told the FOX TV audience. "It's really frustrating."

After loading his team's car, crew chief Scott Miller briefly went to pit road before leaving the track. Owner Richard Childress reportedly was upstairs in the GM Goodwrench suite and was also unavailable to offer his opinion on Burton and his team's title chances.

The bottom line was that Burton could have saved the short-term spike in his blood pressure. He came into the day second in the championship, 203 points behind Gordon.

Although Burton finished exactly where he feared, 43rd, he only fell to fifth in points, albeit 339 behind Gordon, whose finish padded his lead over everyone.

After the series returns to Richmond for Race 26 in September, the standings will be reset for the top-12 drivers competing in the Chase. Drivers who have won will be seeded based on their number of victories. (Continued)