FROM 2002, NECA , BOX READS " JEFF BURTON'S EASY NATURE HAS MADE HIM A FAVORITE ON THE WINSTON CUP CIRCUIT, AND HIS WINNING WAYS HAVE MADE HIM A TITLE CONTENDER MORE THEN ONCE.
IN 2001, BURTON WARMED UP A LITTLE MORE SLOWLY THAN HE MIGHT HAVE LIKED, BUT THE DRIVER CLAMED FIVE TOP FIVE FINISHES IN THE SEASON'S LAST EIGHT RACES, GIVING HIM A TOTLA OF EIGHT TOP FIVES AND 16 TOP 10S FOR THE YEAR.
HIS FIRST OF TWO WINS IN 2001 CAME AT THE UNDER-THE-LIGHTS COCA-COLA 600 THE LONGEST RACE ON THE CIRCUIT. OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES SECURED FOR BURTON A 10TH-PLACE FINISH IN POINTS LAST YEAR.
IN 2000, BURTON FINISHED RESPECTABLE THIRD IN THE WINSTON CUO CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS, MARKING HIS FOURTH CONSECUTIVE TOP-5 FINISH. THE LIKABLE VIRGINIAN EXPLODED INTO THE UPPER RANKS OF THE NASCAR WINSTON CUP SERIES IN 1997, PICKING UP THE FIRST THREE WINS OF HIS CAREER AND FINISHING FOURTH IN POINTS - AFTER NEVER BEFORE ENDING A SEASON HIGHER THAN 13TH. HE HAD ANOTHER GREAT YEARIN 98, BUT FELL BACK A BIT, WINNING TWICE AND FINISHING FIFYH IN THE FINAL STANDINGS. BURTON MADE HIS NASCAR WINSTON CUP DEBUT IN THE INAUGURAL RACE AT LONDON N.H. IN 1993 IN WHICH HE QUALIFIED SIXTH. IT WAS HIS ONLY NASCAR WINSTON CUP SERIES RACE THAT SEASON BUT THE EFFORT COUGHT THE EYE OF THE STAVOLA BROTHERS.
IN 1994, BURTON RAN THE FULL SEASON FOR THEIR ESTABLISHED TEAM. HE QUALIFIED FOR ALL BUT ONE RACE THAT YEAR AND WON A HOLTY-CONTESTED BATTLE FOR THE 1994 MAXX ROOKIE OF THE YEAR TITLE. BEATING, AMONG OTHERS, HIS OLDER BROTHER WARD FIR THE CROWN. BURTON'S INTEREST IN RACING BEGAN AT AGE FIVE. WATCHING WARD RUN GO-KARTS IN SOUTH BOSTON, VA. EVENTUALLY HE BEGAN RACING AND WON THE STATE GO-KART CHAMPIONSHIP TWICE BEFORE VENTURING INTO STOCK CAR RACING. HE RECORDED 21 NASCAR WINSTON RACING SERIES WINS PRIOR TO MOVING UP TO NASCAR BUSCH SERIES GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION. SUCCESS FOLLOWED HIM THERE AS HE POSTED FOUR WINS, 15 TOP-5s AND THREE POLES IN FIVE SEASONS
TEAM: CITGO AND FORD
CAREER: 17 WINSTON CUP VICTORIES
2001 RESULTS: 10TH OVERALL
16 TOP 10 FINISHES
EARNED $3,866.330