Throwback Thursday: Jeff Burton leads every lap to win at NHMS in 2000
In the 2000 Dura Lube 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Jeff Burton completed a feat that only five NASCAR Premier Series drivers had accomplished before him.
Burton led all 300 laps en route to the victory in the No. 99 Roush Racing Ford.
But that wasn't the only headline surrounding the event.
In wake of the deaths of Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin Jr. as a result of stuck throttles during testing accidents in 1999, NASCAR mandated the use of restrictor plates to slow the cars down.
Bobby Labonte had also suffered a stuck throttle in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway two weeks prior in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac.
The decision to implement restrictor plates made for less horsepower, better fuel mileage and little to no left-front tire wear -- all making for a variety of unknowns for drivers and teams.
On top of that, it was only around 40 degrees when the green flag dropped, which was uncharacteristic for a September day at the 1-mile New England track.
But Burton was able to conquer all those obstacles in perfect fashion, earning the 14th win of his career.
