It's been over three months now that the NASCAR Nation have been talking about it. Especially since Dover, and the beautiful win by the #31 in the second race in the Chase. Can Burton win the Cup? Seriously! And if he does, what will the NASCAR Nation do? What would be the controversy? We have talked about it enough to make our minds race. And we continue to do so.

It's been the talk of the town since he made that clean pass on Kenseth, after giving us one of the greatest shows of the season in the closing laps of Dover. He made headlines. He made heads turn. He made everybody realize how great of a season he really had. He has performed flawlessly, on a resurging team, and he made us all believe that he was the one in charge while they did it. This is the Jeff Burton we all have known and loved, but we had forgotten. The Jeff Burton that came on to the scene by storm, as a young gun, who looked liked one of the best drivers since Jeff Gordon. Now look at him. It's all still there. Within the 5 races in the Chase, he has a 7th place finish, a win, a 5th place in Kansas, a rare 27th place in Talladega, and a 3rd place finish last week at Lowes. This looks like Championship numbers to me. Even that Talladega stat is deceiving. He got 5 bonus points for leading that race. He is the current Chase leader, with a 45-point lead over Mr. Consistent. What does that make Burton? A true contender!

This is how these conversations unfold. Each time dialog is shared about the #31, it always turns really convincing. Burton looks like a Champion. The Chase is between the #31 and #17. Jeff Burton will take the Cup! That's it. It's settled.

Then there is that few seconds of silence that feels like hours pass. Jeff Burton? Really?

Here is a veteran, a class act, a good sport, somewhat of an old schooler, and a fine driver in anyone's book. Everybody would be more then happy to see him win the Championship. It would be one of the biggest justices served to NASCAR this close to Mark Martin winning the Cup. It would be one of the golden moments in NASCAR history. The #31 has what it takes to get it done! No one would have a problem with crowning Burton king of 2006.

But that's the problem. No problem. No trash talking the other fans driver. Who can trash talk Jeff Burton? Not even the media can go there. His teammates love him, his crew would throw there bodies in front of an opposing car at full speed for the guy. And my friends, the same ones that make fun of my mom, they don't have a word against him.

To outsiders of the sport, the fans are known for having their drivers, but their notorious for hating on the others. It's part of the NASCAR fans profile. It's part of a Championship run conversation. It has nothing to do with Jeff Burton. No one hates the guy. That's why we are left racing around in circles about the subject.

This is where we come out of the forth turn, back on to the front stretch. That is not how NASCAR happens. Tony Stewart wins the Cup, and half of the fans start throwing stuff. Gordon runs away with the Chase, and we are forced to hear his fans rub June Bugs name in the mud. A Busch brother wins, and we boycott next seasons Daytona 500. It is how it's always been. There is no way Jeff Burton can win the Cup.

A collective sigh is then shared every time the conversation gets to this point. Until someone breaks the mind twisting silence, and it starts all over again from the green.

Can Jeff Burton Win the Cup? Seriously!