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Meet Jeb & Ward Burton
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MEET THE BURTONS: WARD & JEB
Ward and Jeb Burton have a lot in common, but the father and son also have their own unique takes on various topics. NASCAR Pole Position interviewed the two Burtons – separately – and asked them the same questions. Here’s what they had to say. BY JARED TURNER
Jeb Burton Ward Burton
BIRTHDATE: Aug. 6, 1992. FAVORITE FOOD: I’d have to go with ribeye steak. FAVORITE MOVIE: “Saving Private Ryan.” RACING HERO: It was dad. When he wasn’t racing anymore, I leaned on Jimmie Johnson when I first came into the sport. He took time with me and would talk to me a lot, to be honest. PROUDEST LIFE ACCOMPLISHMENT: That’s a tough one. Probably No. 1 was locking down my wife to be with me. No. 2 is starting this outdoors show (“Crossroads with the Burtons” on the Sportsman Channel) and trying to have a successful racing career at the same time. PERSONAL VEHICLE: 2012 Chevy Silverado with 123,000 miles. BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED: I would say my dad’s advice just to never give up on your dreams and just keep working hard. If you want to do something, keep trying to make it happen and you can do it. BEST NASCAR MEMORY: Probably winning at Talladega in the Xfinity Series, I would say. FIRST NASCAR WIN: June 7, 2013 (NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway). HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DAD’S DRIVING STYLE: I would just say aggressive. WHO’S THE BETTER HUNTER: I think I am now just because I put more effort into it than he does.
WHO WINS IN A FIVE-LAP LATE MODEL RACE AT HICKORY MOTOR
SPEEDWAY: I think I would because he hasn’t been in one in so long, you know?
WHAT IF YOU WERE GOING UP AGAINST 2002 WARD BURTON IN HIS
PRIME: I’d say it would come down to whose car was handling better at that point, because I think it would be tough. I think we’d probably wreck each other. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED: Just a honest, hardworking guy that would treat you like you wanted to be treated and treat everybody fairly. BIRTHDATE: Oct. 25, 1961. FAVORITE FOOD: Wild game and things of that nature. FAVORITE MOVIE: “The Cowboys” with John Wayne. RACING HERO: Bobby Allison. PROUDEST LIFE ACCOMPLISHMENT: Probably all of the growth and difference we’ve made for others and land and youth outreach and veteran outreach with the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation. I never would have believed we would accomplish what we’ve accomplished and gotten to where we’ve gotten with a sustained conservation effort. PERSONAL VEHICLE: Chevrolet Duramax Diesel 2500 HD. It’s a 2015 with about 150,000 miles on it. BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED: A dear friend of mine, C.R. Sanders, told me when I was very young, on a piece of property he was letting me and his children use, “Even though I own the land, I’m just a steward of the land.” BEST NASCAR MEMORY: My Daytona 500 and Southern 500 wins FIRST NASCAR WIN: Feb. 29, 1992 (NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Rockingham Speedway). HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE JEB’S DRIVING STYLE: Aggressive, drives every lap like the last lap, intense. WHO’S THE BETTER HUNTER: I would have to say right now Jeb is because he spends a whole lot more time on it than I do.
WHO WINS IN A FIVE-LAP RACE IN LATE MODELS AT HICKORY MOTOR
SPEEDWAY: Probably Jeb right now because I’m rusty since I haven’t been in a race in a long time. WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU WERE IN YOUR PRIME: I’d have to say I’m going to win. I’m not going bend over on that one and take it for him or anybody else. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED: Just as someone who lives by the code, with honesty and integrity, and I’ve always gone out of my way to treat others the way I wanted to be treated, and have a damn strong work ethic.
