Burton takes Food City 500

0 Comments | USA TODAY, March, 2008 | by Gary Graves

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- That Bristol Motor Speedway isn't exactly a giving track is why Jeff Burton was such an eager taker of any opportunity during Sunday's Food City 500.

On firm traction with fresh tires taken during the next-to-last caution, Burton's No. 31 Chevrolet had all the grip it needed to blow by Denny Hamlin's Toyota during a green-white-checkered flag finish and lead Richard Childress Racing's top-three sweep, a first for the 39-year-old NASCAR team.

Those two laps were the only ones Burton led all day, a somewhat ironic payback for a driver who finished ninth here nearly 19 months ago despite leading 263 laps.

At the same time, Burton's last five starts included two runner-up finishes, so a breakthrough wasn't farfetched. And perhaps...