In auto racing, it's the final lap that counts. Jeff Burton never led a lap in Sunday's race at Texas Motor Speedway until the white flag was thrown. Burton passed Matt Kenseth on the backstretch and went on to victory lane

Jeff Gordon, who started on the pole, led 173 of 334 laps and finished fourth. He has never won at the Texas oval.

Kenseth finished second in front of Mark Martin. Gordon was fourth, followed by Jamie McMurray.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has fallen on hard times, failing to complete the race Sunday. It's been 33 races since Junior has appeared in Victory Lane.

Dave Blaney started 40th Sunday and finished 21st while driving the new Toyota race car.

Gordon continues to lead the points chase. Burton holds onto second place, just eight points back of Gordon. Matt Kenseth is third, followed by Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin.

The Nextel Cup Series moves to Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz., this weekend.

Phoenix is a 1-mile tri-oval with modest banking. Kevin Harvick won both races there last season. Rusty Wallace holds the best qualifying record with a time of 134.718 mph.

Poor weather caused the cancellation of all race programs at area tracks last weekend. As a matter of fact, only those tracks located in the western part of the country were able to get a program in the books.Auto racing isn't the only sport affected by the wet weather. Major League Baseball had to cancel all games scheduled in the east over the weekend. High schools in our area had to cancel all outdoors activities.

• Challenger Raceway has rescheduled the Late Model Springfest for April 29. The $5,000-to-win race was postponed last weekend by the wet weather. Tim McCradie won the feature last year.• Sharon Speedway will kick-off the 2007 season Saturday night with five divisions of race cars on the schedule.• After appearing at Lernerville Tuesday night, the World of Outlaws Late Models travel to Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., for a three-day show starting Thursday evening.• Mercer Raceway Park, in concert with Armstrong Cable, is offering a special family package Saturday night. Pay one price of $10 and bring the entire family to see the five- division race program.• Tri-City Speedway is scheduled to open the 2007 season April 29 with a five- division program. Gates open at 4 p.m., racing begins at 6.Racing news can be e-mailed to bdloky@zoominternet.net.Jim Lokhaiser is the racing columnist for the Butler Eagle.