Jeff Burton Wins the 2008 Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Posted by GEORGE October 14, 2008 11:34:55 AM
Jeff Burton brought home his second win of the year at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Saturday night, and the second win was more important than the first. Burton used pit strategy to put himself in the lead when it counted, and the win propelled him to second place in The Chase standings. Burton is now just 69 points behind the leader, Jimmie Johnson, and is well within striking distance of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.
Burton's win is popular, no matter who your favorite driver is. Jeff Burton falls into the category of Mark Martin when it comes to fan support. If your driver can't win, it's still a good feeling when one of these guys takes the checkered flag.
Jimmie Johnson extended his lead on everyone except Jeff Burton, and he continues to drive hard for the win while driving smart to stay out of trouble and finish well. How Jimmie drives is obviously predicated on where his closest competitors are in the race. As long as he can keep them even one spot behind him at the finish, his results are successful no matter what position he finishes.
Cousin Carl Edwards was no more than a distant cousin after his car gave out on him early in the race and put him 16 laps down. Edwards is now another driver who will need some Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Burton, and Greg Biffle failures, and a win or two of his own, just to catch the leaders. You may expect that one of the top three will experience some bad luck in the final five races, but not all three. With this in mind, Carl Edwards has joined the ranks of the "also rans."
So Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick shook hands and made up after NASCAR pulled them together prior to the race this past weekend? And everything is now ok between the two of them, and they are great friends once again? I'll take that bet! That's the kind of happy ending that only happens in the fairy tales I read to my granddaughter. Their handshake may have satisfied NASCAR officials, but the satisfaction which Edwards and Harvick are looking for will take place on the track. When you see the number 99 and number 29 cars close together on the track, pay close attention. There will be another chapter to this story, and more fireworks to come!
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