Jeff Burton to Make 850th Career NASCAR Start at Charlotte

WELCOME, N.C. (Oct. 13, 2009) – Richard Childress Racing’s Jeff Burton will reach another career milestone when he makes his 850th career NASCAR start in Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, driving the No. 29 Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Impala SS.

Since his NASCAR debut at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on March 13, 1988, Burton has made 541 Sprint Cup Series starts, 304 Nationwide Series starts and four Camping World Truck Series starts. He will tie Bill Elliott with 850 NASCAR starts for 11th on the all-time NASCAR starts list, trailing Kyle Petty in 10th with 885 collective starts. Two weeks ago at Kansas Speedway, the South Boston, Va., native became the 26th driver to make 540 starts in NASCAR’s premier division and is one of only 12 drivers to have competed in 300-plus Nationwide Series events.

“It’s hard to imagine I’ll be making my 850th NASCAR start,” stated Burton. “I’m not one to count how many starts I have made but I can certainly say that I have a lot more starts in my future. Competing in NASCAR’s top levels of racing is something I have dreamed of since I was five years old. Thirty-seven years later, I still have a passion for what I do and I look forward to capturing more trophies and, hopefully, a championship along the way.”

Burton, who pilots the No. 31 Caterpillar Impala SS in the Sprint Cup Series, has captured 21 victories in NASCAR’s senior circuit that ties him with Bobby Labonte, Benny Parsons and Jack Smith for 28th on the all-time series wins list. He is also tied with Kyle Busch for fourth on the Nationwide Series all-time wins list with 27.

Over the course of 849 NASCAR starts, the 2007 NASCAR Illustrated Person of the Year has accumulated 48 wins, 17 poles, 209 top-five and 372 top-10 finishes. Additionally, he helped capture RCR’s 2007 NASCAR Nationwide Series owner’s championship and has finished in the top 10 of the Sprint Cup Series point standings in eight of the 15 years he has run the series full time.