WSET.com - ABC13Ward Burton Will Run Daytona Trucks Race

Reporter: Dennis Carter

Halifax County -  Ten years ago, South Boston native Ward Burton won the Daytona 500.

This year, Burton is back, this time in a truck to help kick off his son Jeb's jump to the Camping World Truck Series.

 Ward Burton, 2002 Daytona 500 Champion said "I'll be able to get the job done on the racing. I just need to have the truck a little bit to work with and a little bit of luck to go with it."

Ward Burton will drive his first-ever trucks race February 24th at Daytona. He's driving Daytona because 19-year-old son Jeb isn't qualified yet to run a superspeedway. Jeb will make his trucks debut at Martinsville next month, knowing what he needs to do.

Jeb Burton said he's got to keep his nose clean, get some respect from other drives and race everybody like he would want to be raced, and finish races and run in the top 10 and maybe sneak in a top 5 or maybe even a win.

Ward Burton said "Jeb can get this job done.  What we've got to do is buy him seat time.

Right now, Jeb is sponsored for five races, thanks to State Water Heaters continued support.  The Hillman Racing Team needs more sponsors to add on races.

Ward says "Jeb has got as much car control when it comes to just pure instinctive driving than anybody I've ever seen and if I didn't think that, I wouldn't be sitting here doing this interview."

Ward will be on the team radio for all his son's races. And some of Dad's best advice so far?

Jeb says "He's taught me to keep my cool on the radio, that was one thing he's really done with me.  And I've been working on that."

Dennis Carter - Now did you always keep your cool in the car when you were in it?

Ward Burton laughed "Definitely not, definitely not."