NASCAR's Jeff Burton - From Boy To Superstar

Jeffery Brian Burton or JB as he is affectionatelyYarborough. During those three pivotal years, Burton
known as to his fans, was born on June 29 in 1967 inwon at least one event at NHIS. In 2003 however,
South Boston, Virginia. He is also the younger brotherhe came in 12th place and was unable to win any
of Ward Burton who is also a NEXTEL cup driver.race in either 2002 or 2003. It proceeded on to 2005
Burton started driving in a go-kart in Virginia when hewhere Burton had only six top-tens and three top
was seven which marked the significance of fastfives for the year. He did however finish second
cars in his life. He garnered two Virginia Stateduring the Sharpie 500 at Bristol.
championships in go karting before deciding to raceIn 2006, Burton managed to win the pole for four
cars in 1984. He started racing in late Model featureraces in the Daytona 500, the USG Sheetrock 400,
events and won six of them. A couple of years laterthe Brickyard 400 and the GFS Marketplace 400. It
and he went on with seven more wins and the "Mostwas at the Chicagoland race that Burton came in with
popular driver" award.a second place finish. He was the lead for most of
Burton debuted into the Busch Series in 1988 but onlythe laps at Indianapolis and the Sharpie 500. He ended
started full time in 1989. He had his first Winston Cupthe four year drought in the Busch Series when he
race in 1993. In 1994, he went on to grab the 14thmanaged to win the Atlanta Motor Speedway. He
place in the overall standings, however he wentwent on to compete at the Chase for the Nextel
down to 24th spot after a safety violationcup where he won the Dover 400 but because of
disqualification. He competed for the NASCAR Rookieother unsatisfactory finishes in the races after,
of the Year award in 1994 after a fourth place win.Burton was not eligible for the championship. In 2007,
In the next year, he had a one top-five win with aBurton had the Samsung 500 under his belt and
ninth place finish and as he unfortunately missedbecame the first driver with plenty of wins at the
three races, he came in 32nd. His lucky break came inTexas Motor Speedway. He also finished at 7th
1997 when he came in first at the Interstatestanding for the Nextel Cup.
Batteries 500 at Texas Motor Speedway and wouldBesides racing and winning, Burton and his lovely wife
continue to win 14 more races right until the yearKim are active participants in a wide range of
2000. He had an excellent year in 1999 with hiscommunity projects. The most noted is the Duke
sponsor Jiffy Lube 300 for three years straight, theChildren's Hospital where Burton has been a long time
Coca Cola 600 and the 50 Annual 500. He came incontributor. Burton supports the hospital and together
third in 2000 with 294 points behind the champion.with the effort from his wife, has been able to raised
During that year, he became the first NASCAR driver$1 million to date and have pledged to keep on
to be in the lead of every lap in the Dura Lube 300helping the hospital for as long as they can. His wife
at New Hampshire International Speedway since Caleis an active member on the hospital's board.