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Ward Burton Quotes

News Clips

WARD ON MARTINSVILLE (October 22, 2006)

"I had a ball. It was a lot of fun getting back in the seat. I really appreciate Morgan-McClure Motorsports and Lucas Oil for allowing me to run their car at Martinsville. I feel like we started off the race a little bit off chassis wise and communicated with the team particularly Chris (Carrier) and we got the car a lot better. We never really got track position but were able to capitalize on the Lucky Dog a couple times to get back on the lead lap. It is kind of amazing that there were that many cars on the lead lap at Martinsville. I think that was a little bit more than the norm. Our last four laps were the fastest laps we had turned all day. I think we were really doing a good job of getting the car better. For not having any time with the team and my absence from racing, I feel really good and excited about our effort. I think it answered a lot of questions for me and hopefully others that I don't have any rust on me and I'm ready to go racing; it's just like I'd never not been racing. I feel good about that and I feel real good about my physical shape. I feel like I was 100 percent behind the race car all day. I look forward to hopefully having some more opportunities to race for Morgan-McClure. I just really enjoyed racing. That's where my background started when I was about 8 years old and it was just a lot of fun. We had some mishaps but we were lucky enough to not get into too much trouble. I really appreciate everything the team did. It was an exciting day for us."

Ryan McGee - FOX Sports (June 13, 2006)

Teresa from Burlington, Iowa: With all these drivers out to prove themselves, and teams looking to improve their lots, how come no one is seriously looking at Ward Burton?

Ryan McGee: I would love to see it, and his name has started to really pop back up as Silly Season has gotten cranked up over the last few weeks. He was at Martinsville back in April, and since Dale Jarrett announced he would be leaving Robert Yates Racing, Ward has been connected to Yates for '07. Both parties say they haven't talked, but Ward says he would be willing to chat with Yates anytime. He also acknowledges that his quick refusals to some Truck and Busch Series offers might not have been the best move. Owners and sponsors seem to be leaning back toward hiring veteran drivers again so perhaps that will work in Ward's favor.

Ryan McGee - FOX Sports (April 2006)

This is an email that was sent to me. Is there any truth to it? "Most likely, Dale Jarrett will be leaving the UPS team to drive for Michael Waltrip's new Toyota Team next year. UPS has made a very attractive offer to Ward Burton to drive the UPS Ford in the upcoming 2007 season. I think there is a very good chance we will see Ward in the 88 car next season." — Dean Barboza, Portsmouth R.I.

McGee: I think DJ is defintely headed to drive for Michael Waltrip and Toyota, but hadn't heard the Ward Burton angle. He has been coming to the racetrack a lot lately, but when I chatted with him at Martinsville he made it sound like he was much more likely to end up in what has become NASCAR's version of the PGA Champions Tour, the Craftsman Truck Series. Man, would it would be great to see him in a top shelf Cup ride again. However, his fellow Virginian Ricky Rudd has been contacted by Toyota teams...but he says he is enjoying retirement more than he expected.

Larry McReynolds - FOX Sports (April 2006)

Two solid racecar drivers and family people who have won Nextel Cup and Busch races are unfortunately on the sidelines right now: Ward Burton and Ricky Craven. I hate it for both of them. Never say never. You don't know what might come to fruition, but I don't see anything even being rumored about either one of those guys. Obviously, as we know with our sport, age doesn't work to a driver's advantage. It's unfortunate, but it's a fact of life.

Someone may hire them for a Busch or Truck ride. God forbid a Nextel Cup driver gets injured, but Burton or Craven might be able to fill in for that driver. That's what happened to Mike Skinner and Joe Nemechek in 2003 when they filled in for Jerry Nadeau.

(April 2006)
Kenny Wallace, on wishing Ward Burton was back in the Busch Series:
"We need characters, at least get someone who can drive and talk funny."

(4-3-06 NASCAR Notes)
Ward wants in
Ward Burton could be getting closer to returning to NASCAR racing and made his first appearance at a track this season at Martinsville Speedway.

Once intent on coming back only for a quality team in NASCAR's top series, Burton said he is becoming more open-minded about racing in the Busch or truck series, but more because he misses the camaraderie of racing and the excitement of competition.

If no ride comes his way, Burton said he could accept that, too.

"I can live with it. I mean, Iím living with it right now and Iím fine," he said. "I'm certainly not having any problems being busy and I'm doing what I enjoy. I'm kind of leading my own life in the direction I want it to go. At the same, this sport, in whichever garage it is, offers a lot of excitement, a lot of opportunities."

Burton, who won the Daytona 500 in 2002, founded the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation in 1996 and manages thousands of acres with an eye toward conservation.

That feeds his excitement need, too, but not quite like racing.

"I like living on the edge and doing exciting things, and racing is one of those things that you always have in your blood," he said.

(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(4-1-2006)

Ward looking to race again: Ward Burton was back in the garage at Martinsville Speedway on Friday wishing he were wearing a driving suit instead of jeans. "I've been carrying on some communication, seeing what kind of dominoes need to fall to get back in," he said, adding that he no longer is as insistent on getting a Nextel Cup ride as he was last year. "I'm getting a little more open-minded to the possibility of another series," he said, indicating that he'd be willing to make a comeback in the Craftsman Truck or Busch series. Burton, a five-time Cup winner who hasn't raced since the fall race at Phoenix in 2004, said he enjoyed his year layoff, but he's ready for it to end. "I had a whole year to get a good breather, and I probably needed it," he said. "But when it got close to Daytona and I wasn't testing and doing appearances, I started having a longing, like I had lost a friend in my heart."