· This Week’s AT&T Chevrolet Impala SS at California Speedway … Jeff Burton will pilot chassis No. 224 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stable, a new race car for the 2008 season that Burton tested at the 2.0-mile track during Preseason Thunder testing January 31 and February 1.

· Burton in the Loop at California …

o Stat Facts … In 15 Cup starts at California Speedway, Burton has posted one pole, five top-five and six top-10 finishes.

o Holdin’ Down the Streak … Burton has remained in the top 12 of the point standings for 65 consecutive races, the longest current streak of any driver in the Cup Series.

o Since We’re Talking Stats … Burton is ranked eighth in NASCAR’s Average Running Position category (13.8) and is currently the sport’s fourth-best Quality Passer (303) – a statistic derived from the number of positions improved while running in the top-15 during green-flag conditions. He is 10th in the Driver Rating category (92.8). The Driver Rating is a formula that combines the following categories: wins, top-15 finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, most laps led and lead-lap finishes. The maximum points a driver can earn in each race is 150 points. The Driver Rating number is used pre-race as a prediction tool and post-race as a performance evaluator.

· Double Down West Coast Style … In addition to racing the No. 31 AT&T Chevrolet Impala SS in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, Burton will drive the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS for RCR in the Stater Bros. 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at California Speedway on Saturday, February 23. This weekend’s race is the first of 12 that Burton is scheduled to drive the Holiday Inn Chevrolet. The race can be seen live on ESPN2 beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).

· Meet the Press … Burton will be available outside the No. 31 AT&T transporter to field questions from the media Friday, February 22 at 8:50 a.m.

· One Trophy Missing From the Shelf … RCR has earned a Cup Series victory at 18 of the 22 tracks on the 2008 schedule. The only tracks on the current schedule where RCR hasn’t earned wins are California Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. Additionally, RCR has Cup Series wins at 21 tracks, the three defunct tracks being North Wilkesboro (N.C.), Riverside (Calif.) and Rockingham (N.C.).

· California Driver … Jeff Burton isn’t the only member of the AT&T Racing team with driving experience in California. Crew chief Scott Miller was behind the wheel on six occasions at the now-defunct Riverside International Raceway from 1981-1984, with a top finish of 14th at the nine-turn road course in Southern California. Miller raced in the NASCAR Winston West Series from 1983-1986 accumulating two poles, one win and six top-five finishes.

· Making a Pit Stop … Before heading to the west coast to compete in this weekend’s Auto Club 500, AT&T driver Jeff Burton will visit Darlington Raceway on Wednesday, February 20. The winner of the 50th running of the Southern 500 will be on-hand to help construction crews pave the historic race track and visit with media. Track president Chris Browning will also present Burton with a piece of the historic start/finish line from the track “Too Tough to Tame.”

· Up to Speed … The Auto Club 500 at California Speedway will be televised live on Sunday, Feb. 24 beginning at 3:30 p.m. EST on FOX. The race will also be broadcast live on Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the second of 36 points-paying races on the 2008 NASCAR Cup Series tour begins Friday, Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m. EST and will broadcast live on SPEED.

JEFF BURTON QUOTES:

You finished fourth in last year’s event. What do you remember most about that race?

“I thought we had an honest chance to win that race. The No. 17 was really good there at the end and the No. 29 came on strong there at the end, too. I messed up and spun the rear tires on the last restart. I restarted second and just messed up. I don’t know if I had anything for Matt (Kenseth) or not but it was a good day and a disappointing day at the same time. Anytime you can restart second with two laps to go, you know you have a great shot to win. Unfortunately, I messed up that chance.”

Are you concerned about running the Impala SS at California Speedway?

“I’m not concerned about it at all. You’re going to see racing the same way you have been seeing it. This car drives pretty well on big tracks. I have very little concern about the quality of racing.”

“I think we have room to grow. I think we still have some ground to catch up on. I think we have made some gain with the COT program but we still have more things to work on. My assessment is the (Joe) Gibbs’ cars, Hendrick cars and Roush cars look good. We look good, too, but some of those cars make us seem like we’re just a step off and we have to continue to work so we can close that gap.”

Why is it so important to run well at California Speedway?

“Leaving California knowing you can run well there is very important because it kind of shapes your year. It lays the groundwork for the mile-and-a-half and two-mile racetracks – where you are in the scheme of things. It’s real important to get off to a good start because if you don’t then you start wondering how are we going to fix this. It’s difficult to turn the ship around when things are not going so well. It’s important to go to California and compete at a high level because it builds confidence in the equipment that you have.”