Burton’s limited driving schedule begins Sunday

Veteran Sprint Cup driver Jeff Burton, who ended his full-time career last season to race part-time and work as a commentator for NBC, will make his first start of 2014 this weekend in the Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Burton will drive the No. 66 Toyota from Michael Waltrip Racing. Waltrip plans to drive the car in the restrictor-plate races, at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. Burton will run a limited number of races, and Joe Nemechek will run the rest as part of an alliance between Michael Waltrip Racing and Jay Robinson Racing.

Burton said in a team release he’s anxious to see the results of the test sessions he ran for Waltrip over the winter. And he said while he would like to race more, he’s not going to do so unless it will be beneficial to his team.

“It’s got to be part of a plan, and if it’s not, we’re making a mistake,” he said.

Awaiting delivery:

Paul Menard, driver of the No. 27 Chevrolet at Richard Childress Racing, will have his friend Matt Crafton, the reigning Camping World Truck Series champion, on standby to drive his car this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway should the stork come calling.

Menard and his wife, Jennifer, are expecting their first child soon, and the veteran driver plans to be there for the birth.

“Paul and I have been