Biography: Jeff Burton

Jeff Burton can be found most weekends behind the wheel of the number 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet in NASCAR's elite Sprint Cup Series. A veteran of the sport, he has 21 wins, 119 top 5, and 217 top ten finishes in stock car racing's top tier division. He started his career sixteen years ago driving for Jack Roush, but now competes for championship team owner Richard Childress.

Jeff was born on June 29, 1967 in South Boston, Virginia. An outstanding high school athlete, he followed in the footsteps of his older brother Ward Burton into racing. He was a two-time Virginia state karting champion, has wins in several late model series including NASCAR's weekly racing series. He was the Sprint Cup Series rookie of the year in 1994. He has also been to victory lane several times in NASCAR's Nationwide series and helped Richard Childress win the owners championship in that series in 2007, sharing the driving responsibilities with teammate Scott Wimmer. He's made it into NASCAR's version of the playoffs, the Chase for the Championship, three times. He's won races at some of NASCAR's most difficult tracks such as the Bristol Motor Speedway, and is the only repeat winner at the Texas Motor Speedway.

He is very well respected among his peers, and is known somewhat as the NASCAR drivers advocate for safety. On any given day you can expect to find Jeff deep in conversation with NASCAR's top officials discussing ways to make the sport safer for drivers, crewmembers and fans alike. Jeff Burton is also known for his manners on the racetrack. He will rarely ever compromise himself or his competitors by making risky moves or spinning other drivers into the walls. But take note... he is an intense competitor and will not 'roll over' and let someone else win. If he has the car to win, mark my words, he'll be at the front of the field as the laps wind down to the checkers.

Jeff is a fan of the Duke University Basketball team, and is involved with the Duke Children's Hospital. He is generous and is always willing to help with charitable causes.

Jeff Burton is married to his wife Kim, who is Jeff's biggest fan. She will always be found seated on the top of his pit box at every race keeping score for him and cheering him on. He has a daughter Paige, and a son, Harrison who is also interested in racing. The Burtons currently reside in North Carolina when they aren't on the road for NASCAR races.

Sources:

www.nascar.com Biography, Jeff Burton
www.jeffburton.com, Biography section.