Roulette Recap: Jeb Burton – Phoenix Raceway

Roulette Recap follows a randomly-selected NASCAR Xfinity Series driver throughout a race and recaps their efforts. The driver could face calamity on lap one or start from the rear and win the race – there is no telling ahead of time. With that, may the odds be ever in the driver’s favor.

This week, Roulette Recap features the No. 27 Jordan Anderson Racing team with Jeb Burton behind the wheel. Burton’s average finish at Phoenix Raceway over five starts is 14.8 and in 2021, he notched a top 10. 

Burton qualified his Bommarito.com/EasyCare Chevrolet Camaro in P16 for the United Rentals 200. Prior to the green flag, he thanked his team for the hard work in recent weeks and noted, “Feels like we’re making gains.” In response, his crew chief, Shane Whitbeck agreed and said, “Let’s have some fun today!”

Stage 1

Per usual at Phoenix, drivers made use of every inch of real estate on the start and subsequent restarts. Burton maintained P16 through the opening laps and battled Josh Williams and Brandon Jones for position. 

As the middle of the stage drew near, drivers were stretching their cars to single file. Burton settled into P18 and noted, “There’s no way I can run the bottom right now. I’m way too loose.”

He maintained his lap times and, to his advantage, the caution came out on lap 29 as Leland Honeyman, Jr. lost his bumper. During the caution laps, his team made a game plan but was forced to stay on track when the front of the field did the same.

Burton restarted P18 with 10 to go, but four laps later, the field was back under caution. Whitbeck made the call to pit with the rest of the field. In the final two laps of the opening stage, Burton worked his way from P21 to P13. 

Burton radioed his team, laughing, “I wish they’d give an award for the most cars passed on a restart!”

His spotter, Mike Herman encouraged him, “Keep at it! We’ll get you an award. I don’t know what it’ll be but we’ll get you something.”

Burton joked, but likely with some serious undertones, “A beer would be nice.”

Herman responded, “10-4!”

Whitbeck broke in to inform his driver they made a “pretty big adjustment” on the previous stop. 

Stage 2

That ‘pretty big adjustment’ would allow Burton to stay on track and start the second stage P4. Immediately, the caution waved as a wreck occurred behind him. Before anything could be asked, he radioed his team stating, “We’ve got something to work with now!”

Once again, he restarted his No. 27 machine P4 and battled with surrounding drivers, with loads of TV time for his sponsors. 

As yet another caution came out, Burton was sitting P7 in a pack of four cars. With 16 laps remaining, he came to the restart in P8 and was encouraged by his spotter, “You got good mo’!”

There would be one more caution to round out the attrition-filled stage and Burton told his crew that he liked the adjustments and he wanted more of that. 

The stage came to a close after two more wild laps and Burton was scored P18. 

Stage 3

Burton started the final stage in P15 and shuffled positions with the drivers around him in the opening laps.

He settled into P17 and then the caution flew again at lap 138. Burton told his team, “The stuff we did went overboard.” A trip to pit road gave Burton fresh tires, a full tank of fuel, and some more adjustments.

Burton restarted P16 and was working his way forward when the No. 2 of Sheldon Creed took a wild spin right in front of him.

Around goes Sheldon Creed as #XfinitySeries drivers scatter around him.

Another restart coming with under 50 laps left on FS1. pic.twitter.com/KiFYJXaPIh

— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) March 11, 2023

The next restart saw Burton sitting P11. Unfortunately, Burton was losing ground as the laps ticked by. Herman cautioned his driver, “Don’t overdrive. Be smart.” But Burton was getting frustrated. 

When the next caution came with 30 to go, Burton was sitting P23 and he exclaimed over the radio, “I’m racing a bunch of – – – – idiots.” A few seconds later, he told his crew chief what he needed if more adjustments were coming his way.

The team opted to stay on track and when another wreck happened just a few laps later, Burton worriedly told his team, “Something doesn’t feel right on the left front.”

He came to his crew and they pulled out the fenders and checked things over. He restarted P33 and methodically worked his way through the field in the closing laps.

As Burton brought his car to the checkered flag, he was scored P22, having gained 11 spots in 15 laps.

Sponsor Shoutout

As NASCAR fans know, sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shoutout to a few of those that were part of the weekend for Jeb Burton and the No. 27 team:

Bommarito Automotive Group, Lucas Oil, EasyCare/APCO 

Be sure to give Jeb Burton (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and Jordan Anderson Racing (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.