Photo Credit: Noel Lanier
Jeb Burton didn’t know what his 2016 NASCAR season would hold in January, but after a strong run at Atlanta that saw him run inside the top-10 all race long, he hopes to run for an XFINITY Series championship and keep his momentum heading into Las Vegas.
Following an unsuccessful bid for Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year in 2015, Burton has taken the reigns of the No. 43 for Richard Petty Motorsports for this year. Burton’s opening race with the team at Daytona didn’t go as planned after an early incident damaged his car, but Burton and veteran crew chief Drew Blickensderfer ran well all day Saturday to score a top-10 finish, the first for Burton in the XFINITY Series since his debut at Kentucky in 2013.
“I was having fun today,” said Burton following his run. “We did a good job. I felt like we lost some spots on that last restart. The longer we went, the tighter we got. It seemed like later in the day we just kept getting tighter and tighter. I’m really proud of the guys.”
Richard Petty Motorsports has run in the XFINITY Series the past several years with drivers Michael Annett and most recently Dakoda Armstrong, but Armstrong moved on to JGL Racing, leaving the team driverless and sponsorless for 2016. Petty sold off most of their cars and equipment from 2015, and it seemed like their XFINITY program was set to shut down, when Burton got the last minute nod to drive the car this season. Burton is surprised at how quickly the team has come together this season, as most of the team and equipment is brand new.
“I knew these guys could do it. They’re working hard,” said Burton. “I’ve got a great team and we’re gonna keep getting better. I’m thankful for the opportunity. I’m thankful for J. Streicher and Rocky Ridge on board, and I’m looking forward to getting to Vegas.”
Burton and the team head to Las Vegas with momentum coming off a top-10 finish, and Las Vegas is a track he’s run well at in the past. He finished eighth at Las Vegas in a Camping World Truck Series race in 2014.
Burton currently sits 12th in the points standings with the last spot in the new Chase.
