It’s not very often you get to see Jeb Burton compete in the Xfinity Series, but when he does, you can expect him to bring the best out of the car and run up front. The same was seen today at Indianapolis.
Burton, the son of former NASCAR driver Ward and the nephew of Jeff, was back in his first start at Indy since his last one two years ago in 2017, where he finished 19th. Burton was hoping to better that finish today, but this time driving the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevy.
The Halifax, Virginia native was making his fifth Xfinity Series start of the 2019 season. Burton had a decent qualifying spot of 12th for the No. 8 machine. From there, he worked hard to be up front and in contention for the lead. However, at a track where track position means everything, it was difficult going in Stage 1 where Burton finished the same spot he started in which was 12th.
Throughout the race, the team made continuous adjustments to the car hoping it would get Burton out front. At one point in Stage 2, Burton was running as high as third and was not saying a word to his team with 10 laps left in Stage 2.
Burton remained in the top five at the end of Stage 2, where he finished fourth. When the third and final stage came, the JR Motorsports driver was reporting that he was needing more grip to help the car out.
It wasn’t until a caution came out with seven laps to go when Burton would get his lucky break. After the extensive clean up due to an accident, Burton was lined up right behind race leader Kyle Busch. When the race went back green with four to go, Burton pushed Busch out front to the lead.
However, despite being up front at the end, Burton had to settle for an emotional fourth-place finish.
“It wasn’t by myself for sure, we had a good hot rod,” Burton said to PRN Radio. “Sorry, a lot of emotion man, to finish fourth at the Brickyard. We ran there all day, we didn’t get lucky and just finished there. Appreciate the State Water Heaters, LS Tractors and ALSCO. We’re going to win before it’s over with, we just gotta keep digging.”
It was Burton’s second top-five finish of the season and the third of his career.
