Ward Burton - A Fighting Chance

Back in the Cup garage, the crew is attacking the car.

McClure and Carrier decide to give the Chevy maximum front downforce to try to keep the nose glued to the track. That means taking a rotary saw to the air dam and kicking it out as far as the rules allow.

It is a radical change, but it is the only option this late in the week.

They also swap the steering box for one with a quicker ratio, increase left-front spring weight, and play with the caster and camber.

"It'll work," says Carrier. "Or it won't."

With only 60 laps in the 150-mile qualifier, and a go-or-go-home situation, there will be no time to dial it in during tomorrow's race.

It is the race team's version of going for broke. You lay everything you have on the table and hope the dice roll your way.

On race day, Carrier stands in the team's pit box, surrounded by a field of blue uniforms.

The Morgan-McClure pit crew is unseasoned, and this race is too critical to risk a rookie mistake during a pit stop. So the team asked the more experienced crew from Hall of Fame Racing to go over the wall.

Hall of Fame will pit in the same box during the second qualifying race, so going over the wall for Burton gives them a chance to limber up before servicing their own car.

What could have been a tense scene is mitigated when the time comes for the crew to line up in the pit box before the biggest race of the year. Any disappointment for the Morgan-McClure team is washed away when one of the Hall of Fame guys insists Burton's regular crew join them in line during the traditional prayer and National Anthem.

"The car wouldn't be here without you guys," one of the men in a blue uniform calls out. "We're just honored to be asked to help."

Burton starts in the 15th spot, and the race is only six laps old when the transmission slips out of gear and he falls well off the pace. He comes around the front straight trailing most of the field.

But just when it looks like there will be an early end to Burton's Daytona 500 bid, a caution comes out when Jeremy Mayfield hits the wall in Turn 4. The Monte Carlo speeds up to catch the rest of the pack before everyone dives into the pits for fuel and tires.

There are high-fives all around as Burton picks up spots in the pits. It is apparent the rent-a-crew decision is a good choice.

Burton is one of 13 drivers in the 31-car field hoping to race his way into the Daytona 500. Where he finishes overall isn't as important as where he finishes in relation to the dozen other drivers in the same position. Only the top two will make the race. The rest go home.

One by one, he passes his competition on the track and in the pits. His crew watches a pit box monitor, always looking to see which car is his next target. Some of his competitors are victims of on-track incidents, as everyone pushes hard to make the show.

At one time Burton is as high as Seventh overall, but Third in the chase for one of two open spots.

Almost the entire field comes in for fuel and tires on Lap 41.

Burton charges into the pits, and the crew goes to work. Four tires. Full load of fuel. They drop the car and pull the jack away.

The car stalls when Burton releases the clutch. The crew spins around and gives the Chevy a push to re-fire the motor, but in an instant, they know the game is lost. Barring a major crash that will take out much of the field, Burton can't make up the spots he lost in those two extra seconds in the pits.

But their scrappy driver isn't giving up. He picks off slower cars with every lap until things go from bad to worse.

With four laps to go, he heads into Turn 4 when the car in front of him suddenly slows.

Burton checks up so as not to drill the car in the rear and gets tapped from behind by Mike Bliss. The impact loosens the car and Burton slams the wall hard, careening off the concrete and clipping Jeff Green, who was trying to avoid the wreck.

He drives the wounded Chevrolet behind the wall and climbs out of the car, beating his fist on the roof in anger and frustration.

Burton doesn't blame anyone. Not the driver who slowed in front of him. Not the guy who tagged him in the rear. Not even himself.

"It's just a damn racing deal," he says. "It's not my greatest day in racing, but it's not the end of the world. I didn't get hurt. My family's OK.

"I knew when I came back into racing there would be days like this. I came down here with a lot of pressure on myself to make the race. I'm committed to my career.

"This is a good team. They work very hard. I think together we can benefit one another and get results.

"I'll be back."

Burton didn't make the 2007 Daytona 500.

But there will be a race next week. And the week after that. And he'll be there. Two years away from racing has made it obvious to Burton just how important it is to him.

Outside the team hauler, McClure assesses the damage. The entire right side has been flattened against the concrete. He opens the hood, takes a quick look at the bent tubes, and says the Monte Carlo will need a front clip before it ever races again.

But just like Burton, it will.

All he needs is a little time. And a bigger hammer.

Jerry F. Boone can be reached at Jfboone@aol.com.