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BURTON READY FOR DEBUT - Sixteen-year-old Jeb Burton (right) is pictured with his father, former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series star Ward Burton, in front of the car he will drive in Saturday night's pair of Limited Sportsman Division races at South Boston Speedway. (G-V Photo/Joe Chandler)

Jeb Burton To Make NASCAR Debut Saturday At SBS

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Jeb Burton has been anxiously waiting since spring to be able to compete in his first NASCAR race. Saturday night, the 16-year-old son of former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series star ward Burton will get that opportunity.
Competing in the Limited Sportsman Division, the younger Burton will make his NASCAR racing debut here Saturday night in the twin Limited Sportsman Division races that will be a part of the five-race Italian Delight 150 racing program at South Boston Speedway which gets the green flag at 7 p.m.
"I'm looking forward to it," the soft-spoken teenager said of his pending debut.
"It's my home track. It's only about five minutes from home. I've wanted to run there all year."
While Jeb Burton has wanted to compete at South Boston Speedway before now, he couldn't because NASCAR rules mandate that an individual must be at least 16-years-old. Now, having just recently passed his 16th birthday, Burton can compete on NASCAR sanctioned tracks.
To prepare himself, Burton has competed in three Limited Sportsman Division races at the non-NASCAR sanctioned Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, N.C. After finishing fifth in his first start, Burton hit and his team hit a streak of bad luck with two DNFs, both as a result of issues with the car's engine.
The problems that plagued Burton's effort were frustrating.
"He (Jeb) had a situation where he was one of the quickest cars, was starting on the outside pole and couldn't even get the car into position to start the race," Ward Burton explained.
"Myself and the team were obviously sick and torn up about it. It's tough to learn to learn how to deal with disappointment. Racing is an emotional rollercoaster at best, and will always be. He (Jeb) is learning a little bit about the rollercoaster that is going to be around for quite some time."
The younger Burton said the problems that led to the DNFs in his last two attempts at racing at Orange County Speedway was hard to take.
"I've gained a little bit of confidence but I kind of lost a little bit when we kept on having DNFs," the younger Burton said.
"It was just disappointing. You go down there and practice all day and you're fast and then you get to race time and the car won't even start. We knew what was going on, but then it would be something else. It just kept on piling up. Everything was going wrong two weekends in a row. But, now, everything is better."
The past few months have been long ones for Jeb Burton, his dad, and his team. Since the spring Burton has logged thousands of laps at area tracks trying to gain precious seat time to prepare for the point in time in which he would be able to launch his stock car racing career. A lot of work was done and there is much more left to be done.
"It was both fun and frustrating.," the younger Burton said of the lengthy testing sessions.
"It's been a long path. I wanted to race a long time ago, but I don't think I was ready. I was just thinking about the racing part the whole time. I wanted to get ready to race."
Saturday's Limited Sportsman twinbill at South Boston Speedway will be another big step for the teenager. He says he is glad that he went to Orange County Speedway first before coming to race at his hometown track.
"It's good competition down there, but I think South Boston Speedway is more competitive. I'm glad I went to OCS first. I learned a lot down there and I think that helped get me ready for South Boston Speedway."
The young racer says this will be a big weekend, but that he is trying to keep that off of his mind.
"It's a big step in a way, but, in a way, I've got to take it as just another average race weekend," Jeb pointed out.
"A lot more people will be coming there to watch me, a lot of my friends and family. There is a lot of pressure in some ways, and in some ways it's not. You're a new driver coming out and you want to race clean with everybody. You don't want to dump somebody like Bruce (Anderson) who is running for the championship and mess up his season.
"But, I'm looking forward to this weekend," he added.
"I think this weekend will be pretty positive. "
His dad, Ward, says his concern this weekend is giving his son the best possible shot at being successful.
"I just want to be prepared," Ward Burton explained.
"I want to be prepared for him and us. We're all working together as a team. At the same time, I'm playing a daddy role and a car owner role. When I go to the racetrack, I want to be the fastest car there from the time I unload until the time I leave. That's the drive I had. At the same time, I've got to remember that Jeb is just turned 16. I have to chill a little bit sometimes."
The elder Burton said he and the team plan to do some testing at South Boston Speedway prior to Saturday night's race to try help his son get up to speed as quickly as possible.
"We really haven't tested at South Boston in two months to amount to anything," Ward Burton said.
"We're behind the eight-ball because the other guys that have been running there every week know and have an idea of where they should be and we don't. I'm not making any excuses. That's just racing. We're working hard, and I think we'll get there. We've got a lot of work to do to give him (Jeb) the best shot we can by having a good-handling racecar come Saturday."
The twin races for the Limited Sportsman Division will be just a part of the racing action fans will see during Saturday night's Italian Delight 150 racing program at South Boston Speedway.
Saturday night's five-race program will be headlined by a 150-lap race for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock Car Division. There will also be a race for the Pure Stock Division competitors and a race for the touring Legendary Ford Flatheads Racing Association.
Pit gates will open at 1 p.m. and practice will go from 2:15 p.m. until 3:45 p.m. Grandstand gates will open at 5 p.m. and qualifying time trials will begin at 5:15 p.m. The first race will get the green flag at 7 p.m.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for youths ages 7-12. Kids ages 6 and under will be admitted free. Youths must be accompanied by a paid adult in order to receive the discounted admission price.
The rain date is Sunday afternoon, August 17, at 2 p.m.

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