Burton: Chase still wide open

Burton currently ranks fourth in the standings, 91 points behind third-placed Biffle and 121 behind leader Jimmie Johnson. He says it is still too early to draw conclusions as to who will be in with a real chance to be champion in six weeks time at Homestead.

"There's no question that the guys in the front right now have shown the most strength up to this point," Burton said. "There is also no question that is not always going to be the same.

"They don't give the cheque and the trophy until the last race. If they gave it prior to the Chase, they would have just given it to Kyle Busch. A lot is going to happen. We are 30 per cent into this thing, there is a tremendous amount of confidence.

"I can already hear it in Greg's (Biffle) voice, he has a tremendous amount of confidence right now and rightfully so. But it only takes one mistake, one bad pit stop, one engine problem, one bad race where you don't run well to completely change the rules. It is what it is."

Two years ago, Burton won the second race of the Chase and led the standings for three weeks before an engine failure put him out of the race at Martinsville. Later, an accident at Texas brought his title challenge to halt with two races to go.

The RCR driver says it's still too early to write anyone off from this year's championship battle.

"There is not a team in the Chase, nor is there a team in the field, that is immune to having bad races, I can assure you." Burton added. "There is not a team in the Chase that isn't capable of winning the championship.

"After the first week, a lot of people stood up and declared Matt Kenseth ineligible, he is out of it, he can't win. Well, I've got news for you, he can win. So I wouldn't be writing the cheques just yet."

Burton has been in the Chase for the Sprint Cup for the past two years, finishing seventh and eighth respectively.