DOVER, Del. -- Jeff Burton's winless streak is over and a week of controversy is behind him. Up ahead: a run to the Nextel Cup title, with a whole lot less competition to worry about.

Burton finally led the lap that matters Sunday, finding his way back to Victory Lane at Dover International Speedway after a thrilling late battle with Matt Kenseth. The win parked Burton in the lead of NASCAR's Chase for the championship and ended his 175-race winless streak.

"We have positioned ourselves to have something special happen, but just because we're in this position doesn't mean something special is going to happen," said Burton, who took a slim, six-point lead on Jeff Gordon, the pole-sitter, who finished third.

"Eight races is an eternity."

Even so, Sunday's Dover 400 likely ended the title hopes of Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- each of whom had his own problems to fall all but out of the Chase.

Burton nipped at Kenseth's bumper in the waning laps, ducked beneath him, pulled side-by-side and still kept falling just behind. It wasn't until six laps were left that Burton finally scooted by with the critical pass.   More