Jeff Burton and the AT&T Racing team strived for a good finish using sound pit strategy in Sunday’s Centurion Boats at The Glen, but a slight hiccup on pit road coupled with late race cautions relegated the team to a 17th-place at Watkins Glen International.

For the second week in a row, the Scott Miller-led crew had a less than expected finish after showcasing consistent performances during the first half of the 2008 season. Despite finishing outside the top 15 the past two weeks, Burton and Company still sit fifth in the NASCAR Cup Series championship point standings with four races remaining until the Chase for the Cup commences.

Thunderstorms forced NASCAR to cancel Friday’s time trial session for the second year in a row and fifth time this season. By rule, the No. 31 AT&T Chevy lined up fifth for the annual road course showdown in Watkins Glen.

The green flag waved just before 2:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and the field of 43-cars thundered down the front straightaway and headed to the first of 11 turns on the central New York circuit. Burton raced in the top 10 for the first 21 laps and was quick to report to Miller that his AT&T Chevy was loose and needed more rear grip.

Sticking to a predetermined plan, Miller summoned his veteran driver to pit road on lap 26 for a routine four-tire pit stop, including air pressure adjustments to all four tires. The South Boston, Va., native returned to the course 29th in the running order but slowly made his way up the leaderboard as the cars in front of him visited pit road for service.

While running ninth, the first of four full-course caution flags slowed the field for debris. Needing a few more green flag laps run, Miller kept the 20-time Cup Series winner on track so that one final pit stop would get them to the end of the 90-lap event.

Happy with the direction of the previous adjustments made to the handling on the bright orange machine, more air pressure adjustments were in order when Burton brought his Impala SS to pit road for the final time on lap 56. Trouble with both right-rear tires during the pit stop proved costly for the AT&T Racing team, ultimately costing them several positions.

Burton returned to the racing surface 34th and once again, as many of the frontrunners made their way down pit road for the final time, the Chase contender gained 13 spots before the second caution flag flew on lap 64.

Two more caution flags, including a red flag for cleanup after a nine-car melee blocked the race track, consumed the final 26 laps and during that time, Burton was able to pick up five positions and cross the line 17th.

Kyle Busch captured his eighth win of the season and was followed to the line by Tony Stewart and Marcos Ambrose. Juan Pablo Montoya and Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top-five finishers.

Burton’s fellow Richard Childress Racing teammates Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer finished sixth and 23rd, respectively.

Next weekend, NASCAR’s premier division heads to the Irish Hills for round two at Michigan International Speedway.

Live television coverage of the 3M Performance 400 will take the green flag Sunday, August 17 beginning at 1 p.m. EDT on ESPN. The race will also be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 23rd points-paying races on the 2008 NASCAR Cup Series calendar will be televised live on SPEED Friday, August 15 beginning at 3:30 p.m. EDT and will also broadcast live on MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Sony Ericsson W580i Walkman®

Learn More