| | People make fun of the 1970s, but I wouldn't change being a kid during
that time period. Okay, so maybe we could have done without that disco
thing, but heck Richard Petty and David Pearson were winning races. So, while it may not have been a great time for rock and roll, it sure was a fun era of racing.
During the '70s, a country and western singer -- not that I listened to country music, heck I dressed up as one of the guys from KISS one year for Halloween -- C.W. McCall had a hit country song called "Convoy". When looking at the chase for the Winston Cup title in 2000, a small verse from that song still holds true to this season.
|  | | Once again, Jeff Burton is making a late-season charge. But does he have enough miles left to catch Bobby Labonte? |
"It looks like we have ourselves a convoy."
Too hokey, you say. Maybe? But if you go by Alan Kulwicki's numbers from 1992, only four drivers have a shot at the title, and three are chasing one guy. The one guy everyone has been hunting for much of the season: Bobby Labonte.
Over the first three-quarter of the season (26 races) of 2000, Labonte has more than set the pace. Need a remarkable fact-toid to drive home the point? Okay, Labonte has held stationary at the top for 23 of those 26 events.
Race No. 27 is at Dover Downs on Sunday, a race track with many characteristics, and yet not a favorite of fans or drivers. Maybe that's because the Monster Mile of concrete is a track not for thoroughbreds, but rather a track for trotters. And it may be only appropriate that the series heads to Dover Downs with Labonte still leading the way.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Labonte hasn't been a thoroughbred this season. Heck, surely hasn't been a trotter. No, Labonte's been that guy driving the car with those big gates that keep the field at bay behind him.
Labonte has only let Dale Jarrett and Mark Martin see the front of the field, albeit for all of three weeks. Jarrett stuck his nose
out front for two races after winning Daytona, and Martin wrestled control for all of six days in May.
In case you haven't noticed by now, Labonte's season parallels Jarrett's from one year ago. After 26 races in 1999, Jarrett's average finish was 7.35. Labonte comes to Dover with an average finish of ... yeap, 7.35. Erie isn't it?
Labonte hasn't had much reason to look over his shoulder much, not with a tight grip on the points lead and 168-point advantage heading into the weekend. But Bobby might want to take a look in the rear view mirror. Jeff Burton is closing fast and poised to take a shot at the points leader.
When Burton won last week in New Hampshire, he moved past both Dales and became the fifth different driver to move into second place in 2000. To date none of the other four have been able to shake the confidence, or slow the steady momentum, held by the 18 team.
"It was a good weekend for us in New Hampshire," Burton said. "But we can't celebrate very
long. Another challenging track is upon us.
"Dover is a real tough track, it's so fast and the concrete is rough. It is all about
handling at Dover. If you can handle well, then you will be successful."
While time isn't exactly on Burton's side, the 99 has scored the most points over the past six Winston Cup races. But his 989 markers are only 73 more than Labonte's second-best total over the same span of races. Although it has been
a year, Burton is not a stranger to leading the points.
Last spring, Burton held the top spot in the standings for six straight events from Darlington to California. That's longer than anyone other than Labonte or last year's champion Jarrett. Burton and crew chief Frank Stoddard have the experience of running near the front, and they may just pose the final challenge to Labonte in the chase for the 2000 Cup.
|
Burton's Stretch Drive
|
|
Here's a look at Jeff Burton's three-year results over the final eight races of the season.
|
|
Track
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
|
Dover
|
14th
|
38th
|
6th
|
|
Martinsville
|
11th
|
5th
|
9th
|
|
Charlotte
|
1st
|
3rd
|
37th
|
|
Talladega
|
6th
|
10th
|
8th
|
|
North Carolina
|
14th
|
13th
|
1st
|
|
Talladega
|
6th
|
10th
|
8th
|
|
North Carolina
|
14th
|
13th
|
1st
|
|
Phoenix
|
38th
|
4th
|
4th
|
|
Homestead
|
13th
|
5th
|
3rd
|
|
Talladega
|
34th
|
4th
|
5th
|
Since the 99 team's inception in 1996, it has gone through the usual growing pains and maturity of any title-contending team. Stoddard relinquished his tire-changing duties, instead calling the shots totally from on top of the pit box. The move has not been without a few stumbles and adjustments. In Darlington, Stoddard actually borrowed the tire changer and tire carrier from the 31 team after his own front pairing had trouble during the Southern 500.
But the real story of the 99 team starts on Friday. Burton and his 99 team have proven to be like the Detroit Tigers -- a strong closer, but usually in too deep of a hole to make a major difference.
In past seasons, however, Burton hasn't been this close. This year, he has a shot at the leader. And if you look
over the past three seasons, he has been as consistent over the final eight races as any driver. Not exactly Mariano Rivera, but he has closed out both the '98 and '99 seasons very strong
He will need to continue that trend, if he wants a legitimate shot at Labonte. He may even need to win a couple more times. One thing is for sure, he'll need Labonte to stumble a little down the stretch. Look for two of the three to happen.
Looking back to last season, Labonte was stronger over the upcoming stretch. From Dover to Atlanta, Labonte's worst finishes
were a seventh at Talladega and eighth at Martinsville. Over the final six races,
he finished third or better in five races. Now those are some pretty stellar
numbers.
But Burton has won at three of the eight tracks left on the schedule -- Martinsville, Charlotte and Rockingham. Then again, Labonte has the same numbers with past victories at Charlotte, Talladega, and
Atlanta.
Oh, and one other thing to consider in what has become a game of Winston Cup chess is Labonte has a 168-point margin for error. This weekend, even if Jeff Burton won the race and Labonte finished dead last and never led a lap, Labonte would still hold the points lead. Burton can't afford the slightest hiccup, or risk being out of contention.
| |
ALSO SEE
Paris in spring? Give Martin Dover in fall
Weber: Closing on Labonte a monster task at Dover
|
