Ward Burton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ward Burton
Burton in 2019
Born	John Edward Burton III (1961-10-25) October 25, 1961 (age 63) South Boston, Virginia, U.S.
Achievements	2002 Daytona 500 Winner 2001 Southern 500 Winner Led Busch Series in poles in 1993
NASCAR Cup Series career
375 races run over 13 years
Best finish	9th (1999)
First race	1994 Pontiac Excitement 400 (Richmond)
Last race	2007 Subway 500 (Martinsville)
First win	1995 AC Delco 400 (Rockingham)
Last win	2002 New England 300 (Loudon)
Wins Top tens Poles 5 82 7
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
161 races run over 10 years
Best finish	6th (1993)
First race	1990 Pontiac 200 (Richmond)
Last race	2007 Carfax 250 (Michigan)
First win	1992 Goodwrench 200 (Rockingham)
Last win	1993 Slick 50 300 (Atlanta)
Wins Top tens Poles 4 50 7
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Best finish	59th (2012)
First race	2012 NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 1 0
Statistics current as of April 17, 2013.

John Edward Burton III (born October 25, 1961) is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He is famous for winning five races in the NASCAR Cup Series, including the big 2002 Daytona 500 and the 2001 Southern 500. Ward is part of the well-known Burton racing family. He is the older brother of fellow NASCAR driver and TV announcer Jeff Burton. His son, Jeb Burton, and nephew, Harrison Burton, are also NASCAR drivers. Today, Ward runs the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, which works to protect nature and support outdoor activities.

Ward Burton's Racing Journey

Starting in the Busch Series

Ward Burton started his NASCAR career in the Busch Series (now called the Xfinity Series) in 1990. He raced full-time for four seasons. In his first year, he finished in the top 10 three times.

He kept getting better each year. In 1992, he won his first race at Rockingham. He finished that season in eighth place overall. The next year, 1993, was even better for him. He won three more races and ended up sixth in the final standings.

After 1993, Ward raced less often in the Busch Series. He drove for different teams and had some good finishes, including a second-place finish at Dover International Speedway in 1999. In 2007, he briefly returned to the Busch Series, driving for Brewco Motorsports.

Moving to the Cup Series

In 1994, Ward Burton moved up to the top level of NASCAR, then called the Winston Cup Series. He raced in most of the events that year. He even earned his first pole position (starting first) at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In 1995, he joined Bill Davis Racing. Later that year, he won his first Cup Series race at Rockingham. This was a big moment in his career. By 1999, with Caterpillar as his sponsor, he had his best season. He finished ninth in the points standings, with many top-five and top-ten finishes. Interestingly, his brother Jeff won three races where Ward finished second!

Big Wins and Memorable Moments

The year 2000 was strong for Ward. He won a race at Darlington Raceway and finished in the top 10 seventeen times. This placed him tenth in the final points. In 2001, his team switched to Dodge cars. He won the Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington. He also led the most laps in the 2001 Daytona 500 but had to stop early due to a crash.

His biggest win came in the 2002 Daytona 500. He was leading the race when another driver, Sterling Marlin, got a penalty. This allowed Ward to take the lead and hold on to win the famous race. It was a huge victory! He also won another race that year at New Hampshire. This was the only time in his career he won more than one race in a single season.

Ward left Bill Davis Racing in 2003 and joined Haas CNC Racing. He continued to race in the Cup Series until 2007. After that, he didn't race full-time but made a return in 2012 for one race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He also worked as a driver coach for Turner Scott Motorsports in 2013.

Ward's Work for Nature

Ward Burton is not just a race car driver; he also cares deeply about nature. In 2005, the Governor of Virginia appointed him to the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries. This board helps manage and protect wildlife and natural areas in Virginia.

Ward is the founder and president of the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation. This organization works to conserve land and promote outdoor activities like hunting and fishing in a responsible way. He has also been a spokesperson for Virginia's state parks.

His efforts in conservation have earned him awards, like the Governor's Environmental Excellence Award in 2008. He helps raise money for the Virginia Natural History Museum and works with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to protect wetlands. He also helps 4-H clubs with wildlife programs.

Personal Life

Ward Burton was born in Danville, Virginia, but he grew up in South Boston, Virginia. In 1990, he married Tabitha Conner. They have three children: Sarah (whom Ward adopted), Jeb, and Ashton. His nephew is Alexander Burton. Ward owns a large amount of land in Virginia where he enjoys hunting. He also has a home in Nags Head, North Carolina.

Ward's family history goes back to the early days of the Jamestown Colony. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial, a historic site in Virginia.

Images for kids

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  Ward's 1997 MBNA racecar

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  Ward's crew working on his 2004 car

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  Ward's No. 4 car in 2007

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  Ward Burton (left) in 2007