CUP: Burton, CAT Back With RCR

Sprint Cup

CUP: Burton, CAT Back With RCR

Jeff Burton has been with Richard Childress Racing since 2004...

Tom Jensen | Posted April 19, 2011 Charlotte, NC

Veteran Jeff Burton has agreed to a multi-year contract extension with Richard Childress Racing. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Jeff Burton on Tuesday became the second high-profile NASCAR Sprint Cup driver in a week to sign a contract extension with his team, agreeing to a multi-year contract extension with Richard Childress Racing. Sponsor Caterpillar also re-upped to remain on board with the team.

With Greg Biffle’s recent re-signing with Roush Fenway Racing, two of the sport’s marquee drivers are out of the “Silly Season” mix for 2012 and will stay with their current teams.

Among the high-profile drivers still unsigned for next year are Burton’s teammate, Clint Bowyer; Biffle’s teammate, Carl Edwards; Red Bull driver Brian Vickers; Juan Pablo Montoya of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates; and Mark Martin, who is in the final year of his deal with Hendrick Motorsports.

While the above drivers may be putting together 2012 plans, Burton’s deal solidifies a strong driver-team-sponsor partnership that has enjoyed considerable success on the track and off.

Burton, who goes by the nickname “The Mayor,” in the Sprint Cup garage, is one of the sport’s most articulate and insightful drivers, and despite a subpar start to his 2011 season is still plenty competitive behind the wheel. Caterpillar has been the team’s primary sponsor since the start of the 2009 season.

“We are very pleased to continue our relationship with Richard Childress Racing and Jeff Burton,” Bill Finerty, Caterpillar’s vice president of Americas distribution services division, said in a statement released by the team Tuesday morning. “Cat Dealers, customers and employees all take pride in watching the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet compete at a high level in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.”

Burton qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2010 and has earned 11 top-five and 25 top-10 finishes since the Caterpillar partnership began. Burton also won the second Duel 150 qualifying race for the 2011 Daytona 500.

“I'm excited to continue my relationship with both Richard Childress and Caterpillar,” Burton said. “Over the past few years, I've had the opportunity to meet and work with a lot of great people at Caterpillar and I look forward to providing their employees, dealers and customers continued success both on and off the track. Continuing my career at RCR was a top priority for me and it's great to have the support of Caterpillar behind us.”

Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEED.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100.

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