February 25, 2012
By Brenda Benedict
What we don’t do for our kids! The desire to further his son’s career has brought a driver back into the ranks of NASCAR this week.
Ward Burton has resurfaced in NASCAR racing. The 2002 Daytona winner ran the No. 27 truck for Hillman Racing in the Camping World Truck Series at Daytona on Friday, February 24 – finishing 8th.
Ward Burton is the older brother of current NASCAR driver Jeff Burton and the father of Jeb. It is Ward Burton’s son, Jeb Burton, who has caused Burton to slip into a truck seat this year.
Burton explained that he left NASCAR in 2007 but still has a desire to race and probably will until he is 80 years old. His last race races in NASCAR were in 2007 when he ran in the Nationwide and Cup Series. This will be his first race in the Truck Series.
The proud father introduced his son, Jeb, at the Daytona Media Center on Thursday, February 23, 2012. Burton, who ended his 17 year NASCAR career in 2006, never officially retired. The 50 year old Burton appears fit and trim and looks ready to jump back into a race car.
Ward Burton’s life has been full in these past five years as he worked for Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation. He stated that when he is introduced anywhere it is either as Daytona 500 champion or as a wildlife advocate.
Burton is a devoted father evidenced when he stated, “I’ll do everything I can to help my son.” This includes driving a truck in the Daytona race because Jeb has not been certified to run the superspeedway tracks.
Jeb Burton appeared at the press conference with his father but has not yet developed his public relations expertise. He seemed uncomfortable answering questions and was unable to put his feelings about the Truck race into words. The 19 year old, who graduated from Halifax County High School (Virginia) in June 2011, appeared to shrink into his father’s shadow.
I spoke with Jeb later in the day and he said he really wished he was in the truck instead of his dad. Jeb will be driving in the next five Truck races following Daytona.
NASCAR felt that Ward Burton’s parental support crossed the line last fall when they placed Ward Burton on probation for a brief time following an altercation in which Burton entered the pit stall of a competitor following a Late Model race. Jeb Burton was also fined $250 and given a suspension for throwing a traffic cone at a competitor in the same incident.
Ward Burton’s return to NASCAR will be brief -- a one race deal. But he is very clear that his goal is to further his son’s racing career.
As a parent, I can understand and look forward to seeing what this past Daytona winner can do.
You can follow me at Twitter @nascarfaithful
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
