Cat Mining Chevrolet at Phoenix International Raceway - Jeff Burton will pilot chassis No. 329 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in the November 13, 2011 312-lap affair. Built new for 2010, this Caterpillar Chevrolet saw action for the first time this season at Bristol Motor Speedway in August where the 19-year veteran finished 15th after starting 21st. Burton also drove this black and yellow machine during the fall race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway earning a 13th-place result.
Special Cat Mining Paint Scheme - Virtually everything we use in our everyday lives requires mining, and today mining is more important than in any time in our history. World development and increased urbanization are driving the demand for the minerals necessary to sustain our growing population. As the demand for mined materials grows, so does the need for a broad range of equipment and solutions to support the mining industry. With its acquisition of Bucyrus International, Caterpillar now offers the broadest line of surface and underground mining equipment in the industry. Wherever there's mining, you'll find Caterpillar. You'll find our products hard at work - drilling and digging, loading and hauling, grading and dozing. And you'll find our people - working alongside our customers to help them mine efficiently and productively while doing the utmost to protect the health and safety of miners, the environment and the communities where mining companies operate. For more information, visit Mining.cat.com.
Presenting Empire Southwest - Empire Southwest will be featured on the No. 31 Cat Mining Chevrolet's deck lid for the Kobalt Tools 500 this weekend. This third-generation, family owned company was founded in 1950 and supplies construction and mining equipment to Arizona, Southeastern California and portions of Northern Mexico.
Phoenix Minutes - In 24 starts at PIR, Burton boasts back-to-back wins in 2000 and 2001, six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. Additionally, the South Boston, Va., native captured the checkered flag in the 2000 NASCAR Nationwide Series event at PIR. Burton has also been running at the end of every Sprint Cup Series race at PIR and has completed 99.3 percent of laps (7,451 of 7,503) contested.
Good Start, Impressive Finish - Over those same 24 races, Burton boasts a 24.4 starting average bested by an impressive 12.3 average finish. The 21-time Sprint Cup Series race winner has finished outside the top 15 only three times (April 2010, November 2010 and February 2011) in the past 21 races.
Right Mix at Phoenix - Since joining RCR in August 2004, Burton has run 14 races at PIR, garnering a 12.3 average finish with two top-five, seven top-10 and 11 top-15 finishes.
Loopy in the Grand Canyon State - According to NASCAR's Loop Data statistics, which was initiated in 2004, Burton is the sport's best Green-Flag Passer. Over the past 13 races at the desert oval, he has completed 626 passes under green-flag conditions. Additionally, the 19-year Sprint Cup Series driver is the sport's seventh-best Quality Passer with 309 passes made. Burton has notched 2,395 circuits around the one-mile facility while running in the top 15.
Coca-Cola Arctic Home - This weekend, look for Burton to be chugging Coke out of a special white-cap Coca-Cola bottle this weekend in support of the Coca-Cola Artic Home initiative. Polar Bears have been a big part of the Coca-Cola brand for decades and now Coke and the World Wildlife Fund are partnering in a campaign to help protect the polar bears' arctic home. This holiday season, Coke is turning its iconic red cans white to help raise awareness and funds for polar bear conservation efforts. Fans can get in on the action by using Coke package codes to text a personal $1 donation to WWF or by donating online at ArcticHome.com. For every fan that donates, Coke will match it up to $1 million. Fans can visit ArcticHome.com for more information and to learn more about the polar bear and its habitat.
Race Rewind: Lone Star State - Burton started the 334-lap affair from the 31st position, but quickly climbed through the field to the 17th position by lap 100. After experiencing some overheating issues on the No. 31 Caterpillar machine, Burton brought the RCR entry to the attention of his pit crew to repair duct work that had come loose from the nose making the Chevrolet overheat. The South Boston, Va., native returned to the track and again, climbed his way through the field and eventually taking the lead on lap 305. Burton and crew chief Luke Lambert decided to take the gamble on fuel mileage in the closing laps of the AAA Texas 500, but fell five laps short and settled for a less-than-desired 27th-place result.
Learn More
Cat Racing www.catracing.com
Phoenix Internation Raceway http://www.phoenixraceway.com
Richard Childress Racing www.rcrracing.com