2007 Preseason No. 10: Jeff Burton

No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevy

2007 Spin
We can only hope that the performance of Jeff Burton and the Cingular Wireless crew is a sign of things to come. As classy and respected as anyone in the garage, Burton and car owner Richard Childress enjoyed a successful season that reestablished RCR as a powerhouse organization.

Honestly, there is no practical reason for a dropoff from this bunch. Burton has been an above-average driver his entire career, and his team appears to be staying intact. The consistency displayed throughout the summer will be hard to replicate, as not many teams score 16-straight top 15s. But Burton just may be the man to pull it off again. He’s a heady racer, not taking chances or sticking the nose of his machine where it doesn’t belong. Of course, that mindset will hurt a driver in the win column, but the goal here is a championship.

Burton will easily adapt to the Car of Tomorrow. The characteristics of the car should reflect those of cars he drove in the early- to mid-’90s. Putting a little extra into the hands of Burton in terms of the car’s setup itself shouldn’t hurt, either.

Another win or two is now expected of this bunch. Obviously Dover, the site of his ’06 triumph, is a possibility, and he had Indy won until the handle went away. However, keep an eye on him at Bristol in the first COT race. That will be a big weekend for everyone, and we think Burton might be the guy to beat.

Is another Chase appearance in the cards for Burton? We think so. One point of concern is how the team ran up front early in races last season only to be junk the last 150 laps. If you can’t close a race, you can’t close a championship run.

Fantasy Stall
Looking at Checkers: A flat track like Indianapolis.
Pretty Solid Pick: Bristol, in the COT’s first race.
Good Sleeper Pick: A road course.
Runs on Seven Cylinders: There aren’t too many tracks where he consistently runs poorly.
Insider Tip: If you want consistency in your fantasy lineup, grab him. If you want a big-money flash in the pan each week, stay away.

2006 Performance Rankings
Flat Track Ranking: 5th — Best Finish: 7th, Las Vegas, New Hampshire (2)
Intermediate Track Ranking: 6th — Best Finish: 1st, Dover
Plate Track Ranking: 15th — Best Finish: 4th, Talladega
Road Course Ranking: 7th — Best Finish: 7th, Infineon
Short Track Ranking: 25th — Best Finish: 9th, Bristol, Richmond

Read Jeff Burton's complete preview in the 2007 Athlon Sports Racing Magazine