Photo – Ford

Jeff Burton came so close to winning at Darlington Raceway in August 1997. He rubbed fenders with Jeff Gordon in the final laps, but Gordon hung on to win the race and the Winston Million.

Burton won a race in the first three races of the 1999 season by picking up the victory at Las Vegas.

He was still looking for his first win at Darlington. Rain was going to be an issue in the 1999 edition of the TranSouth Financial 400. On lap 43, the race was stopped because of Mother Nature.

Pole-sitter Gordon led the first 38 laps until the rains came. Once the race resumes, the lead changed hands between Gordon, Burton, and Jeremy Mayfield.
Burton took the lead again on lap 120.

Then the most bizarre thing happened.

With rain once again threatening in the area, a big wreck happened in front of the leaders and collected Burton. The No.99 car suffered heavy damage and unless the race was to resume, Burton couldn’t continue.

A perfect-timed thunderstorm fell on Darlington Raceway and Jeff Burton snagged his first victory, with a little luck from the NASCAR gods and Mother Nature.

Burton would go on to win a career-high six races in 1999 and complete the Darlington sweep by winning the Pepsi Southern 500 in September.

1999 TranSouth Financial 400 Top Ten

#99 Jeff Burton (first Darlington win)
#12 Jeremy Mayfield (best career Cup finish at Darlington)
#24 Jeff Gordon
#88 Dale Jarrett
#6 Mark Martin
#20 Tony Stewart
#4 Bobby Hamilton
#22 Ward Burton
#43 John Andretti
#18 Bobby Labonte (Bobby started the race, but was relieved by Matt Kenseth after Labonte suffered injuries in a Busch Series practice crash)