It's not in a Cup car, but it will be really nice to see Ward Burton back on the track. They don't come much nicer to be around at the track than Ward and brother, Jeff. Two of the most cooperative folks you could ever ask for. Hopefully, we'll get a chance at a television interview that will take full advantage of Ward's famous drawl!
Ward Burton had five career wins in in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series and four in the Nationwide Series.
Ward Burton returns to race at Daytona
By: Billy Fellin
Richmond Times Dispatch
Published: January 26, 2012
After a five-year absence from competing in a NASCAR race, Ward Burton will drive at Daytona in February in the NextEra Energy 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event.
Burton and his 19-year-old son, Jeb, have teamed with Hillman Racing in the Truck Series to run the No. 27 Chevy this season.
Burton, the 2002 Daytona 500 winner and brother of current Richard Childress Racing team member Jeff Burton, stepped away from the sport in 2007 to help Jeb's racing career as well as work with the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation.
Burton had five career wins in in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series and four in the Nationwide Series.
"I am real excited about the things we have going on with Mike Hillman Sr. and his program. I think this is a real good thing for Jeb and his career," Burton said in a statement. "Hillman Sr. is building a great team of people and we are hoping that we can bring some additional marketing partners on board with us to make this program a huge success."
Jeb moves up from the NASCAR Whelen All-American series to the Truck Series.
Ward will race at Daytona because Jeb is not yet qualified to run at Daytona. Burton also will make select starts throughout the truck series schedule.
The younger Burton will make his debut behind the wheel in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville on March 31.
Atop the pit box for the No. 27 will be Richmond native Trip Bruce, who worked with Burton in his Sprint Cup days at Bill Davis Racing.
"I'm excited to race in the truck series," Jeb Burton said in a statement. "This is a big step from the NASCAR Whelen Series but I am ready for it. I am comfortable with my crew chief Trip Bruce and the teams of guys here at Hillman Racing."
The NextEra Energy 250 is Feb. 24 at Daytona.
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updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
