South Boston, VA - In case you haven't heard, there's a Burton making big news on the racetrack at South Boston Speedway.  It's not Jeff Burton or his brother Ward. Actually, it's Ward's 16-year-old son Jeb.

2002 Daytona 500 Champion, Ward Burton, said, "I'm not gonna say what I'm going to say just because he's my child. Jeb has got as much raw talent as anybody I've ever seen."

And he's already showcasing that talent. Burton has driven only 14 career races, but he nearly won Saturday's limited sportsman event, finishing a close second to winner Brian Pembleton.

 "I'm tickled to death. I really wanted to win, but I wasn't going to wreck him not to win," Jeb said.

 "As long as Jeb has the focus, he has the desire and he's willing to put auto racing first, we'll go racing and we'll try to get him to where he wants to go," Ward said.

Ward may not be driving now, but his son keeps him plenty busy. Putting on car bodies, changing tires, shaking down the car and, of course, paying the bills.

"It was a heck of a lot more fun being in the driver's cockpit I can tell you that. Racing's gotten pretty expensive. But my parents did it for me, I feel like it's almost an inherited responsibility to give my son an opportunity,"  Ward said.

Jeb is taking that opportunity and RACING with it. His mom and dad couldn't be prouder, but as parents, you're always concerned about your child's safety.

 "I don't think my mom likes it too much, but I guess she's going to have to get used to it 'cause that's what I want to do," Jeb said. 

Jeb and the other South Boston Speedway drivers are back in action a week from this Saturday.

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