Jeff Burton Returns to Dover International Speedway to Defend NASCAR Busch Series Win

Jeff Burton returns to Dover International Speedway this weekend to defend his NASCAR Busch Series win of a year ago. At that race, Jeff Burton flashed his veteran wile. Driving arguably only the third-best car in that race, he captured the checkered flag, nudging out Carl Edwards (No. 60 Dish Network Ford) and Clint Bowyer, who led 67 and 62 laps, respectively. Jeff Burton led 19.

Jeff Burton earned a Driver Rating of 122.1 in that event and also had an Average Running Position of 8.410, a race-high 41 Fastest Laps Run and a race-high 24 Fastest Laps Run. Overall at Dover, Edwards has a Driver Rating of 103.9 and an Average Running Position of 7.6.

Another driver to watch this weekend is Ragan Smith who made a charge up the point standings with a fifth-place finish last weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The performance, which matched his career-best finish, vaulted Smith from eighth to sixth place in the standings, another career mark.

He had the fourth-best Average Running Position (7.925), the fifth-best Driver Rating (105.7) and the eighth-fastest Green Flag Speed. Also, Smith spent only eight laps outside the top 15.

On the other hand, Bobby Hamilton Jr. has dropped from the top 10. Hamilton has struggled of late with finishes of 22nd, 20th and 33rd over his last three races. His fall peaked this past weekend in Charlotte, as he dropped from seventh to 12th in the standings.

Hamilton stats at LMS were below par as well. Hamilton had an Average Running Position of 36.315 and a Driver Rating of 38.1. Coming into the Lowe’s race, he had a season-to-date Average Running Position of 22.477 and a Driver Rating of 64.3.

There is light at the end of the tunnel for Hamilton, though, who finished second at Dover in 2003 and fourth in ‘04, the last time he raced at at The Monster Mile in NASCAR Busch Series competition.

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