Jeff Burton at Texas Motor Speedway, November 2013
Photo – RCR/fb
Jeff Burton – known as the Mayor of NASCAR – and driver of the No. 31 @CATMining car is making his 1,000th career start at Phoenix International Raceway this weekend on Sunday, November 10th.
Throughout a career spanning more than 25 years, Burton has garnered genuine respect and admiration from fans, drivers and others in and around the sphere of NASCAR. During his career he has collected 48 wins, including premier victories in the Southern 500 at Darlington (SC) Raceway and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A native of South Boston, VA, Burton has earned more than 250 top-five and 400 top-ten finishes. In 1994 Burton won the Sprint Cup Series ‘Rookie of the Year’ title and in 2007 he co-piloted the No. 29 Richard Childress Racing entry to the Nationwide Series owner’s championship.
“It’s hard for me to imagine that I have driven in 1,000 NASCAR races,” said Burton. “I’ve been lucky and blessed to have family and friends that have given me all this support. I also have good relationships with everyone that I’ve worked with over the years to show for it, which is most important to me.”
Overall, the 46-year-old driver has made 689 Sprint Cup Series starts along with 306 starts in the Nationwide Series and four starts in the Camping World Truck Series driving for Richard Childress Racing, Roush Fenway Racing and the Stavola Brothers among others.
Burton is the last driver to lead 100 percent of the laps in a NASCAR-sanctioned event, pacing the field for all 300 laps en route to victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2000 and was the 2007 NASCAR Illustrated ‘Person of the Year.’
“It makes it even sweeter to reach this milestone at Phoenix International Raceway where we have had a lot of success over the years,” added Burton. “The No. 31 @CATMining Chevrolet team had a top-ten finish in March at Phoenix and tested there recently. We expect to contend for the win this weekend.”
No doubt a win at Phoenix would make Burton’s 1,000th career start even sweeter. And although fans would relish nothing more than to see their driver in victory lane this weekend or even next, whether he wins or not, Burton fans continue to see their favorite driver as a true champion of the sport as he eases out his 2013 season and steps into his future with notable class and style .
