Ed Burton This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Bill Davis Racing

   www.billdavisracing.com/WC22/D - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/10/2003   Last Visited: 3/10/2003

   It was no surprise that Burton decided to remove himself and retreat to the woods, a place he'd spent a lot of time with his grandfather, Ed Burton. He eventually returned to civilization and went to work for the family-owned construction company.
   
   "While I returned to the construction company, my father had started taking Jeff to late model stock car races," says Burton. "When I went to the races with them one night, I was offered a mini-stock race car to drive. I raced the mini-stock twice and was then offered a street stock ride."
   
   Burton experienced phenomenal success when he raced street stocks full-time at South Boston Speedway in 1985. After accomplishing everything there was to accomplish, he made the move to late models in 1986.
   
   "Once I started racing late models full-time, everything came second to me," said Burton. "We raced around Virginia, but mostly at Orange County and South Boston. We raced at each track about 10-15 times a year. At that point, I had no idea that I could ever make a living through racing. I was doing it because I loved it. Although I was racing full-time, I still had to work to support my racing habits."
   
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   Burton had moderate success in the Busch Series, where he captured four victories at North Carolina Speedway (1992), Martinsville Speedway (1993), Orange County (1993), and Atlanta Motor Speedway (1993). In addition to his four victories, Burton scored 31 top-10 finishes in 111 starts. Burton competed in the NASCAR Busch Series for four seasons until making the move to NASCAR Winston Cup in 1994.
   
   Burton drove for the A.G. Dillard Racing team through mid-season of 1995. He joined Bill Davis Racing in September 1995, where he committed to complete the season. In their first race together, Burton and car owner Bill Davis finished fourth at the Pepsi Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
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   After just seven races, Burton gave Bill Davis Racing their first NASCAR Winston Cup victory at North Carolina Speedway on October 22, 1995.
   
   After mediocre seasons in 1996 and 1997, Burton and his Bill Davis Racing team showed promise with improved finishes. 1999 saw the No. 22 team continue up the ladder to the top. Burton and his Bill Davis Racing team finished a career-best ninth-place finish in the point standings in 1999. In addition, they had six top-fives - including three second-place finishes - and 16 top-10 finishes and a Bud Pole Award. In 2000, the No. 22 team became a quiet contender, slipped in the standings, but recovered with a strong end to the season. 2001 brought uncertainty with the new Dodge Intrepid, but the team capitalized on their situation and wrote it off as a learning year. 2002 brought two victories, the most they had combined for in a season, including a victory in the series most prestigious race - the Daytona 500. The team was again plagued by inconsistency.
   
   ...
   "Going into the 2003 season, I am more excited than I have been in quite awhile," said Burton. "We have filled some holes with new people and new enthusiasm and I can't wait to see what the season holds for us."
   
   Career Statistics
   
   Winston Cup
   
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   An active outdoorsman, Burton founded his Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation in 1997, an on-going effort which helps build protection and awareness for the natural habitat of animals on sites near his South Boston, VA home; Burton is also the three-time defending champion of the Remington Firearms/NCMS Celebrity Sporting Clays competition, held each fall prior to the NASCAR race weekend in Rockingham, NC.
   
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