Ward Burton, the 2002 Daytona 500 winner and a veteran of over two decades at the highest levels, took a brief turn behind the wheel of a Late Model Stock co-owned by his son, NASCAR Xfinity Series regular Jeb Burton and H.C. Sellers on Monday morning.
“It was really fun,” said the elder Burton. “I appreciate Jeb and H.C. Sellers allowing me to play for a moment. It brings back a lot of memories because I was immediately telling them what I need to get myself comfortable and feeling right. I know what I need to go faster.”
Burton admitted it had been quite a while since he last piloted a Late Model Stock Car.
“I think it was 1991,” he said. “The late “Goo” Fallen had me go to Orange County Speedway with him. Eddie Hatcher was still working for him. He wanted me to drive the car. The car was fine. It was just the motor wouldn’t run.”
Burton explained it was hard to compare the experience of driving a Late Model Stock Car years ago with driving one on this afternoon.
“I raced once (NASCAR) Busch Series race here in 1995 when the front pit wall was built,” noted Burton. “The track has been reconfigured a little bit since then.”
It was Jeb that persuaded him to climb behind of the wheel of the Late Model Stock Car.
“Jeb has been after me pretty hard to get back racing and run some races somewhere,” Burton explained. “We’ll see what it leads to down the road.”
Jeb Burton and Sellers had spent the day at South Boston Speedway working with driver Andrew Patterson of Statesville, North Carolina. Patterson is scheduled to drive the car in the twin 75-lap Sentara Healthcare Late Model Stock Car Division races that will headline the Danville Toyota ’23 Opener racing program on Saturday afternoon, March 18, at South Boston.
