Burton Debuts in Kleenex ® Ford Fusion at Orbitz 300
Early-race accident foils strong Busch Series season-opener

Daytona Beach, FL (February 17, 2007) … Ward Burton made his debut in the #27 Kleenex® Ford Fusion for Brewco Motorsports this weekend in the Orbitz 300 at the Daytona International Speedway. Unfortunately, Burton was an “innocent victim” in a lap 16 multi-car accident that resulted in a 32nd-place finish in the 2007 season-opener for the NASCAR Busch Series.

Burton was making his first Busch Series start since 2001 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, and his first Busch start at Daytona in fourteen years. However, the talented South Boston, Virginia driver was competitive in the Brewco Motorsports entry throughout practice and qualifying prior to the Orbitz 300. In fact, Burton was fastest in Busch Series final practice on Thursday afternoon.

The #27 Kleenex® Ford Fusion was the 15th of 49 cars to make their qualifying attempt on Friday afternoon. Burton responded with a fast lap of 49.305 seconds / 182.537 mph to earn the 22nd starting position for the 120-lap, 300-mile race.

Under sunny skies and chilly temperatures, the Orbitz 300 went to green before an estimated 100,000 fans at the 2.5-mile speedway. During the early laps, Burton reported to Crew Chief Stewart Cooper that his Kleenex® Ford Fusion was “real loose”. When caution waved for a two-car spin on lap three, Burton, along the majority of the field, did not pit. Restarting in the 15th position, Burton quickly moved to the 11th position by lap ten. Then, six laps later, the season-opening event took a dramatic turn.

As the field raced off turn four two-by-two eight rows deep, Reid Sorenson spun and a multi-car accident ensued. Five cars, including Burton and Brewco teammate Jamie McMurray were involved. Burton would bring the Kleenex Ford Fusion to pit road on lap seventeen for repairs.

After a thorough evaluation of the damage to the right front, Cooper and the Kleenex® Racing Team began repairs and sent Burton back on track in the 37th position. Seven laps later, Burton reported to Cooper that handling was an issue and that he could not run with the lead draft. With aerodynamics such an important issue at Daytona, Burton would have to battle an ill-handling car for the remainder of the race. The Kleenex® Racing Team made additional repairs to the right front fender during a pit stop under the final caution of the race on lap 65, and Burton was able to complete the event. At the checkered flag, Burton drove the Kleenex Ford Fusion to a 32nd-place finish completing 113 of the 120 laps.

“I’m really disappointed for Kimberly-Clark and Brewco Motorsports,” Burton commented after the race. “Everyone on the Kleenex® Racing Team worked really hard to give me a competitive Ford for this event. Sometimes you’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time. If I could do one thing over, I’d probably drop back at the start with Jr. (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) and Tony (Stewart) and just watch the wrecks happen. I had a strong car and could run well in the draft, but the #41 car just lost it right in front of a two-wide group and I had no where to go. I have a feeling that we’re going to have a great season with the #27 Kleenex® Racing Team.”

The next stop for Burton and the #27 Kleenex® Racing Team is the Stater Bros. 300 at the California Speedway in Fontana, California on Saturday, February 24th. Qualifying is set for 3:10 PM ET on Saturday, with the 150-lap, 300-mile race set for a 7:30 PM ET start. ESPN2 will provide live television coverage of the second race of the NASCAR Busch Series with MRN handling the nationwide radio broadcast.
# # #