Second Matters to Burton

HUNERSVILLE, N.C. (November 15, 2000)--Jeff Burton heads into Atlanta this weekend to compete in the NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and there's a lot more than the weather on the mind's of all NASCAR drivers and fans. Yes, Bobby Labonte has clinched the Winston Cup championship, but the coveted spot of second still sits on the line.

Will it be Jeff Burton, or will Dale Earnhardt be able to move ahead to the runner-up position?

Labonte grabbed the lead in the Winston Cup point standings following the NAPA Auto Parts 500 in April at California Speedway, and he hasn't surrendered it since. However, the second-place position has been held by a number of drivers like Burton, Earnhardt, Mark Martin, Ward Burton and Dale Jarrett.

But it wasn't until September at the Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 in Richmond, Va., that the runner-up spot began being shuffled only between two drivers, Burton and Earnhardt, who have held second for the last nine races of the 2000 season. Burton has sat in second three times over the last nine races, while Earnhardt held the position six weeks. All of these statistics, though, are put aside as both drivers' battle for the envied position.

"I don't go into every weekend thinking about the points battle," Burton said. "Of course it would be great to finish in second, but it's not something I lose sleep over. Everyone looks at the second-place finisher as the top contender for the next season, so that's another reason I'd like to finish behind Bobby (Labonte).

"Regardless if I finish second or third this season, it will be my highest career finish in the overall Winston Cup points standings, so I'll be happy with the outcome. This team has worked really hard this season, and there are only three drivers out there that can say they finished in the top-three in the points, so we're all excited with the results. Hopefully next year will be our year."