Post Race Report - Charlotte
Event: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 (Race No. 31 of 36)
Location: Lowe's Motor Speedway; Concord, N.C.
Top-five finishers: Jeff Burton, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Jamie McMurray
Race recap:
Jeff Burton and his crew chief Scott Miller used good tire strategy to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Charlotte on Saturday night. Burton emerged from the pits with the lead after taking no tires on his last stop on lap 299, then held off the field for the victory.
Burton initially took the lead from fellow "Chase for the Championship" contender Greg Biffle on lap 277 and led the final 58 laps on the night.
The early stages of the race were controlled by Chase contenders Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, with the two combining to lead 108 of the race's first 135 laps. Both Brian Vickers (64 laps) and Jeff Gordon (47 laps) then took significant turns up front before a series of green flag pit stops jumbled the field leading up to the final stretch. In all there were 24 lead changes among 16 drivers on the night. The race was slowed by 10 caution flags for 50 of the race's 334 laps.
Burton's victory vaulted him back into contention for this year's championship. He climbed to second in the overall standings, 69 points behind leader Johnson. Biffle is the only other contender within 100 points of the lead, 86 points back.
Race No. 6 of the 10-race playoff format will be held at Martinsville Speedway this coming Sunday.
Companion event:
Kyle Busch led 137 of 200 laps to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Charlotte on Friday night. Busch started the race in the 16th position, but cut through the field and took control on lap 54. Clint Bowyer finished fourth to extend his championship lead over Carl Edwards to 196 points.
Goodyear Quote from Rick Heinrich:
"Our tires performed very well through both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup events this weekend. This was
the same tire combination that we used in May here at Lowes and we are very pleased with the way these
Goodyear Eagles performed at Lowes in 2008. Jeff Burton was able to rely on his Goodyear Eagles and make
a bold fuel-only stop at the end to take the win for his team."
