YEAR-BY-YEAR NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES RECAP
2006 Finished seventh in series points.
In big rebound season, qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
for first time.
Started on the pole for two of the series major events the Daytona 500 and the Allstate 400 at the
Brickyard.
Victory at Dover in September was first victory since October 2001 at Phoenix. The Dover win vaulted
Burton to the top of the Chase standings, a position he held for four weeks.
Fell out of title contention at Martinsville,
when an engine problem led to a 42nd-place finish and a plunge to fifth in the Chase standings.
2005 Finished 18th in series points.
Only three top-five finishes, with seasons best finish a second place at the
Bristol night race in August.
Best starting position was sixth in the season-opening Daytona 500; that start resulted
from a runner-up effort in one of the two 150-mile qualifying races for the 500.
Highest standing in the series
points was 15th after an 11th-place finish at Daytona in July.
With season winding down, showed promise for 2006
consecutive top-10 runs at Martinsville and Atlanta.
2004 Finished 18th in series points.
Began ninth season with Roush Racing but moved to Richard Childress Racing
following the Watkins Glen race and took over the No. 30 AOL Chevrolet for the final 14 events.
Posted two topfive
finishes and six top-10 finishes, with best finish a fourth at the Dover spring race and Bristol fall race.
Best
qualifying performance was fifth at Richmonds spring race.
Announced in October 30 that he would drive the No.
31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet in 2005 for RCR.
2003 Finished 12th in series points for second consecutive season.
Posted three top fives and 11 top 10s.
Best
finish was a second in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July.
Finished season with three top-10 efforts in final five races
to secure top-15 finish in final standings.
2002 Finished 12th in series points, lowest finish since 1996 his first year with Roush Racing.
Finished with five
top fives and 14 top 10s.
First winless season since 1996.
Finished third at both Richmond and Dover.
2001 Finished 10th in series points.
Finished 30th or lower in four of the first six races and had only two top-10
finishes in the first 11 races.
Was outside the top 30 in points until a third-place finish in Talladega in April.
Won
the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in May, his second victory in three seasons in the series longest event.
Won for the
second straight year at Phoenix, capping a stretch of four straight top-five finishes.
2000 Finished third in series points, a career-best result.
Finished behind Bobby Labonte and seven-time champion
Dale Earnhardt.
Fourth straight year of finishing fifth or better.
Tied for second in races won with four, including
leading all 300 laps at New Hampshire and winning $1 million No Bull 5 bonus at Las Vegas.
Other victories
came at the Pepsi 400 in Daytona and Phoenix.
Compiled 15 top-five finishes.
Two DNFs (at Atlanta and Dover)
ranked him fourth behind Labonte (0), Earnhardt (0) and Ricky Rudd (1) for fewest of year.
Won second career pole,
at Richmond in September.
In two of his wins (Las Vegas and second Darlington) brother Ward finished second.
1999 Finished fifth in series points.
Had 18 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes.
Had most wins in a single season
(six) with triumphs at Charlotte, Las Vegas, New Hampshire, Rockingham and both Darlington races, both of which
were rain-shortened.
1998 Finished fifth in series points.
18 top-five, 23 top-10 finishes.
Had victories at New Hampshire and
Richmond.
1997 Finished fourth in series points.
First-time finish in top 10 of series points.
Won first series race in the first
race at Texas in April, then went on to victories at New Hampshire and Martinsville.
Had 13 top-five and 18 top-10
finishes.
1996 Finished 13th in series points.
Had six top fives and 12 top 10s.
Best start and finish was third at
Richmond.
1995 Finished 32nd in series points.
Final year driving with Stavola Brothers.
Had one top five and two top 10s.
... Best finish was fifth at North Carolina.
1994 Finished 24th in series points.
Drove for the Stavola Brothers.
Won series Rookie of the Year honors with
two top fives and three top 10s.
1993 Made series debut at New Hampshire, qualifying sixth and finishing 37th in lone race of season.
PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY
Won five NASCAR Busch Series races in 2002, in only 13 starts.
Finished 12th in point standings in 1991 and 1992
Got his first career win at Martinsville in 1990 and finished 15th in points.
Won seven of 21 NASCAR Weekly
Series late model stock races at South Boston Speedway in 1988 and was voted the tracks most popular driver.
Won six late model races in 1986, his second full season at that level.
Began pure stock class at South Boston in
1984.
Two-time Virginia state go-kart champion and second four times.
Began racing go-karts at age of 8.
NOTEWORTHY
Huge fan of Duke University basketball team.
Outstanding high school athlete in several sports in his hometown of
South Boston, Va.
Longtime involvement with Dukes Childrens Hospital.