Ward Burton looking to make comeback in 2007
Former Daytona winner has been in talks with owners, sponsors
By David Newton, NASCAR.COM
June 26, 2006
06:51 PM EDT (22:51 GMT)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Ward Burton will be at Daytona International Speedway on Friday as a part of a ceremony honoring the past 10 winners of the Daytona 500.
He hopes his next trip to NASCAR's crown jewel will be as a driver.
Ward Burton
Career Cup stats
Year No. W T-5 T-10
1994 26 0 1 2
1995 29 1 3 6
1996 27 0 0 7
1997 31 0 0 7
1998 33 0 1 5
1999 34 0 6 16
2000 34 1 4 17
2001 36 1 6 10
2002 36 2 3 8
2003 36 0 0 4
2004 34 0 0 3
Totals 356 5 24 85
The 2002 Daytona 500 winner said Monday he is negotiating with two "established teams'' a return to the Nextel Cup Series that he hasn't been a part of since being fired by owner Gene Haas in 2004.
One possibility is the No. 88 car of Robert Yates Racing that is open in 2007 because of Dale Jarrett's departure to the new Toyota team of Michael Waltrip Racing.
"That would certainly be an opportunity if it came to fruition,'' Burton said. "It would pump me up. I'd be just excited as when I first made Cup in '94, maybe more so.''
Burton would not confirm discussions with RYR, but indicated his talks have been with owners of multi-car organizations which have struggled recently.
That description fits RYR, which has only one victory between Jarrett and Elliott Sadler since the start of last season and failed to qualify either driver for the Chase last year.
It also would fit Chip Ganassi Racing, which has an opening with Casey Mears leaving the No. 42 car to replace Brian Vickers at Hendrick Motorsports next season.
Burton said there have been no discussions with Toyota, which will field at least six cars under three owners -- Michael Waltrip, Bill Davis and Team Red Bull -- in 2007.
"One of the things we're working on is the sponsor,'' said Burton, which makes the No. 88 car more viable since its deal with UPS is up after this season. "I'm working on a couple of things to try to bring something home.''
Burton, 44, said there'd been negotiations about putting him in a car this weekend at Daytona that fell through at the last minute. He'd like to enter a couple of races before the end of this season to begin his comeback.
"When it gets down to the nitty gritty and it's getting close, everybody will know about it,'' said Burton, who has five Cup victories. "The car owners are obviously working and communicating every week in hope that this comes about.
"But some dominoes are going to have to fall for us to make it happen.''
Burton has spent much of the past year-and-a-half focusing on family and The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, which has a mission to "conserve America's land and wildlife through wise stewardship while educating children and adults about the natural resources that will shape America's future.''
Burton is just as passionate about wildlife conservation as he is racing.
"Saying I'm just as passionate about that as racing maybe sent the wrong message to some folks,'' Burton said. "If it does, that's something I'm not going to apologize for.
"I'm really lucky to have followed two paths in my life. I owe a lot to the racing, because it allowed me to hopefully make a difference like we're trying to make on the other side of it.''
Burton is more convinced now than ever that he has more to contribute in racing.
"I feel I can come back stronger,'' he said. "I know I'm physically there. I know I could be a good team player and add something to a program.''
Seeing the revitalization of younger brother Jeff Burton's career has sparked a desire for a comeback even more. Jeff spent the past four seasons outside the top 10 in points, but 16 races into this season he is a solid sixth.
"But it's not that Jeff has gotten it back,'' said Burton, reminding his brother never lost his driving ability. "It's just the organization [Richard Childress Racing] he's with has gotten it back. Drivers play a role, but they are part of a role.
"They are not the entire ingredient for right or wrong or success or unsuccessful.''
Burton wasn't made to feel that way in 2004 when Haas replaced him with Mike Bliss for the final two races. He felt most of the blame for the team's struggles -- Burton went from ninth in the standings after the second race to 29th after the 34th race -- were put on him.
"Some of the ways I was treated at the time I was exiting the sport gave me a bad taste,'' he said. "Maybe that lingered for a little while. I can live and forget pretty quickly. But it certainly makes me learn about the nature of some individuals.
"Not to go into detail, I just want to be around people I feel like are honest and have the right integrity.''
Burton tried to mend a few bridges after his split with Haas, but that never happened.
"There were phone calls, either hung up on or whatever,'' he said. "That's just the way they handled things.''
Burton said he learned a lot from the breakup that will make him better prepared when he gets a new ride.
"I've had a lot of time to reflect and know my shortcomings and know my strengths,'' he said. "Just looking at the big picture.''
The big picture has a lot of young drivers that haven't won a Cup race getting quality rides while drivers such as Burton are left to campaign for work. Mears and Vickers, who left Hendrick Motorsports for Team Red Bull, are prime examples.
Burton isn't bitter.
"I don't view the up-and-coming drivers as being my hindrance,'' he said. "That's the thing about America. Everybody has an equal opportunity. It's also a little bit of the changing of the guard, and that's to be expected.
"It's not frustrating to me at all to see other people getting opportunities. I just really want to go back racing and I know I can do a great job at it.''
Burton is confident he can return to the top-10 form he had in 1999 and 2000, when he had a combined 33 top-10s for Bill Davis Racing with Tommy Baldwin Jr. as his crew chief.
Baldwin Jr. now is Sadler's crew chief at RYR, which gives Burton another connection to that organization.
"I wish I could tell you more,'' Burton said. "I can tell you I am talking to a sponsor as we speak and car owners as well. I've got my fingers crossed that one of these exciting deals will come true.''
Former Daytona winner has been in talks with owners, sponsors
By David Newton, NASCAR.COM
June 26, 2006
06:51 PM EDT (22:51 GMT)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Ward Burton will be at Daytona International Speedway on Friday as a part of a ceremony honoring the past 10 winners of the Daytona 500.
He hopes his next trip to NASCAR's crown jewel will be as a driver.
Ward Burton
Career Cup stats
Year No. W T-5 T-10
1994 26 0 1 2
1995 29 1 3 6
1996 27 0 0 7
1997 31 0 0 7
1998 33 0 1 5
1999 34 0 6 16
2000 34 1 4 17
2001 36 1 6 10
2002 36 2 3 8
2003 36 0 0 4
2004 34 0 0 3
Totals 356 5 24 85
The 2002 Daytona 500 winner said Monday he is negotiating with two "established teams'' a return to the Nextel Cup Series that he hasn't been a part of since being fired by owner Gene Haas in 2004.
One possibility is the No. 88 car of Robert Yates Racing that is open in 2007 because of Dale Jarrett's departure to the new Toyota team of Michael Waltrip Racing.
"That would certainly be an opportunity if it came to fruition,'' Burton said. "It would pump me up. I'd be just excited as when I first made Cup in '94, maybe more so.''
Burton would not confirm discussions with RYR, but indicated his talks have been with owners of multi-car organizations which have struggled recently.
That description fits RYR, which has only one victory between Jarrett and Elliott Sadler since the start of last season and failed to qualify either driver for the Chase last year.
It also would fit Chip Ganassi Racing, which has an opening with Casey Mears leaving the No. 42 car to replace Brian Vickers at Hendrick Motorsports next season.
Burton said there have been no discussions with Toyota, which will field at least six cars under three owners -- Michael Waltrip, Bill Davis and Team Red Bull -- in 2007.
"One of the things we're working on is the sponsor,'' said Burton, which makes the No. 88 car more viable since its deal with UPS is up after this season. "I'm working on a couple of things to try to bring something home.''
Burton, 44, said there'd been negotiations about putting him in a car this weekend at Daytona that fell through at the last minute. He'd like to enter a couple of races before the end of this season to begin his comeback.
"When it gets down to the nitty gritty and it's getting close, everybody will know about it,'' said Burton, who has five Cup victories. "The car owners are obviously working and communicating every week in hope that this comes about.
"But some dominoes are going to have to fall for us to make it happen.''
Burton has spent much of the past year-and-a-half focusing on family and The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, which has a mission to "conserve America's land and wildlife through wise stewardship while educating children and adults about the natural resources that will shape America's future.''
Burton is just as passionate about wildlife conservation as he is racing.
"Saying I'm just as passionate about that as racing maybe sent the wrong message to some folks,'' Burton said. "If it does, that's something I'm not going to apologize for.
"I'm really lucky to have followed two paths in my life. I owe a lot to the racing, because it allowed me to hopefully make a difference like we're trying to make on the other side of it.''
Burton is more convinced now than ever that he has more to contribute in racing.
"I feel I can come back stronger,'' he said. "I know I'm physically there. I know I could be a good team player and add something to a program.''
Seeing the revitalization of younger brother Jeff Burton's career has sparked a desire for a comeback even more. Jeff spent the past four seasons outside the top 10 in points, but 16 races into this season he is a solid sixth.
"But it's not that Jeff has gotten it back,'' said Burton, reminding his brother never lost his driving ability. "It's just the organization [Richard Childress Racing] he's with has gotten it back. Drivers play a role, but they are part of a role.
"They are not the entire ingredient for right or wrong or success or unsuccessful.''
Burton wasn't made to feel that way in 2004 when Haas replaced him with Mike Bliss for the final two races. He felt most of the blame for the team's struggles -- Burton went from ninth in the standings after the second race to 29th after the 34th race -- were put on him.
"Some of the ways I was treated at the time I was exiting the sport gave me a bad taste,'' he said. "Maybe that lingered for a little while. I can live and forget pretty quickly. But it certainly makes me learn about the nature of some individuals.
"Not to go into detail, I just want to be around people I feel like are honest and have the right integrity.''
Burton tried to mend a few bridges after his split with Haas, but that never happened.
"There were phone calls, either hung up on or whatever,'' he said. "That's just the way they handled things.''
Burton said he learned a lot from the breakup that will make him better prepared when he gets a new ride.
"I've had a lot of time to reflect and know my shortcomings and know my strengths,'' he said. "Just looking at the big picture.''
The big picture has a lot of young drivers that haven't won a Cup race getting quality rides while drivers such as Burton are left to campaign for work. Mears and Vickers, who left Hendrick Motorsports for Team Red Bull, are prime examples.
Burton isn't bitter.
"I don't view the up-and-coming drivers as being my hindrance,'' he said. "That's the thing about America. Everybody has an equal opportunity. It's also a little bit of the changing of the guard, and that's to be expected.
"It's not frustrating to me at all to see other people getting opportunities. I just really want to go back racing and I know I can do a great job at it.''
Burton is confident he can return to the top-10 form he had in 1999 and 2000, when he had a combined 33 top-10s for Bill Davis Racing with Tommy Baldwin Jr. as his crew chief.
Baldwin Jr. now is Sadler's crew chief at RYR, which gives Burton another connection to that organization.
"I wish I could tell you more,'' Burton said. "I can tell you I am talking to a sponsor as we speak and car owners as well. I've got my fingers crossed that one of these exciting deals will come true.''
