Jeff Burton
No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
Event/Date: Daytona 500 – Feb. 19, 2006
Venue: Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.
NOTES:
This Week’s Race Car at Daytona International Speedway … Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 135 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stable. Chassis No. 135 raced in all four restrictor-plate races during the 2005 season. (Daytona 500 – started sixth, finished 29th), (Talladega/May - started 27th, finished 10th), (Daytona/July – started 42nd, finished 11th) and (Talladega/Oct. – started 18th, finished 35th).
Former Winner … Burton is a former winner at the famed Daytona International Speedway. He claimed victory under the lights in the 2000 Pepsi 400.
Double Duty … In addition to his driving duties with the No. 31 Cingular Chevrolet, Burton, a 20-time race winner in the NASCAR Busch Series, will drive RCR’s No. 21 Coast Guard Chevrolet in the Hershey’s Kissables 300 Saturday, February 18. The race will air live on TNT beginning at 1 p.m. EST.
RCR Rocks Daytona … Dating back to 1986, RCR has won six poles and owns 22 total victories at DIS, including 10 straight (1990-1999) Twin 125 wins with Dale Earnhardt. All totaled, RCR has won five Bud Shootouts, 13 Twin 125 qualifying races, two Pepsi 400s and one Daytona 500. Additionally, Dale Earnhardt Jr., won the February 2002 Busch Series race at Daytona driving a car fielded by RCR.
Jeff Burton’s Speedweek Appearances …
Sign here please … Burton will be signing autographs at the Cingular Wireless store located in front of the Volusia County Mall from 5-7 p.m. Fri., Feb. 17. In addition, fans can win give-away items, courtesy of Cingular Wireless.
On Stage … Fans can see Burton live race morning, Feb. 19 at 10:30 a.m. on the Chevy Stage, located in the merchandise area outside turn four at DIS. Burton will be part of a question and answer session hosted by Chevrolet.
Catch the Action … The Daytona 500 will be televised live Sunday, Feb. 19 beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on NBC and broadcast live on MRN and XM Satellite Radio. The Gatorade Duel at Daytona 150-mile qualifying races will take the green flag Thursday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. EST and will be broadcast live on TNT, MRN and XM Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the Daytona 500 will air live on MRN Sunday, February 12 beginning at noon EST.
JEFF BURTON QUOTES:
How was the Cingular Chevy at the pre-season test at Daytona?
“If you compare where we were last year at the Daytona test versus this year at the test, we’ve made a huge gain. The test went exceptionally well. It’s the best test I have ever been a part of at Daytona, as far as being able to generate speed. I’m really happy in qualifying mode and I think we may have something where we can do some business. We were off just a touch from about four or five other cars, but when we head down for the Daytona 500, we’ll be better yet.”
Making the Chase is a goal for Team Cingular. Would anything else be unacceptable?
“Yes. Last year was a rebuilding year, a year to figure out what was wrong and why we couldn’t be competitive. Now we have done something about it. We have the right people and we have the equipment, it’s just a matter of using it. I will say this is the year that we really need to contend to be in that top-10. If you don’t make it because of circumstances then you have to look at that. I’m not going to say not making it is unacceptable, but I will say we are fully expecting to get into the Chase and we feel good about our chances.”
What makes Daytona so special?
“The history is huge. You can’t shut your eyes to the history of this track and what it has meant to the sport. The Daytona 500 is the biggest event in stock car racing, that’s why you want to win it. You win the Daytona 500 and you have accomplished something big in this sport. I’ve won the Southern 500, the Coca-Cola 600 and the July race in Daytona, but winning the Daytona 500 is definitely on top of the to do list for sure.”
What do you think about having the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s ‘Super Bowl’, as the kick-off to the season instead of the finale?
“It is different, but I think now with the Chase situation at the end of the season it’s healthy for the Daytona 500 to start the season. Before, I thought the sport would have been better off to have the Daytona 500 at a different time. What other sport kicks off the year with such enthusiasm? Other sports kind of walk into the year, then run into the playoffs. The NASCAR season takes off running right from the start and I think that is really good for us.”
When was the first time you walked into Daytona International Speedway? What were your thoughts when you first saw the track?
“The first time I went to Daytona was when we were kids and flew down to Daytona the morning of the Daytona 500. My dad had a friend who had a little airplane and we flew into the airport right here next to the track. We walked over to the track and watched the race. We had pretty bad seats. You could watch them coming off turn four and going through the tri-oval and that was about it. This was before they had all the rules, so my brothers and I would go and put our faces right up on the chicken-wire fence. The cars would go by us at 200 mph and I tell you what, the smell and the seeing that was just incredible. I can’t believe my dad let me stand there with the cars going by, but he did. What a sight and just one hell of an experience it was being able to see that, it was unbelievable. That was my first experience at the Daytona 500 and something I will never forget.”
What kind of guy is Richard Childress?
“Well, first of all, he’s honest, so if he tells you something, you can take it to the bank. He’s straightforward, maybe too nice sometimes, to the point that some people take advantage of him, but he’s a very nice person. The things that I admire the most about Richard Childress are his honesty and his desire to be competitive. He has a tremendous work ethic. He puts in an enormous amount of hours at the shop trying to improve the company and I have a lot of admiration for that. He puts in more hours than any other car owner that I am aware of, I mean, he is there every day, every minute that he can be. He is very committed to getting this program back to being successful, then staying there. Richard has a great intensity. He will not accept mediocrity; he wants to win and to win every week.”
What is it like to work for Richard Childress?
“I have certainly enjoyed my time at Childress so far. There have been a lot of changes that have taken place in the time I have been here. It’s really fun to see Richard so excited about racing and willing to do what it takes to get RCR back to where it needs to be. He has been wonderful about understanding that we weren’t where we needed to be and then going out and setting the plan to try to get us there. I think you’ll see that on the racetrack this season. Our engine program has come a long way, our aero program has come a long way, our chassis program has come a long way, engineering, just every program has been improved.”
