Monday, February 09, 2015

Burton Lands Multi-Year Cup Deal With BK Racing

Last week, Jeb Burton was on the outside looking in, after a planned sponsor for his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team failed to come to terms on an agreement for the 2015 season. Today, Burton is back in the driver’s seat, courtesy of a new, multi-year deal to compete on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with BK Racing.

The 22-year old son of former Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton will drive the team's No. 26 Sprint Cup Series Toyota beginning this week at Daytona International Speedway, despite a resume that includes just two full seasons of Truck Series competition, just two XFINITY starts and no Sprint Cup experience. Burton told USA TODAY that his lack of experience in NASCAR’s senior series will make the 2015 season “a building process.

"It was very stressful… not knowing if I was going to be able to race this year," he said. “BK Racing… gave me a great opportunity to where I want to be in the Cup Series.”

BK was forced to retool its driver lineup when both Alex Bowman and Cole Whitt departed to other teams during the offseason. Anthony Marlowe, who co-owns the team along with Ron Devine, told USA TODAY the team wanted a driver who "has more raw talent” than Whitt.

JJ Yeley will drive the team’s No. 23 Toyota. Truck Series regular Johnny Sauter will drive BKR’s No. 83 Toyota at Daytona, and in a limited schedule of events this season.

4 comments:

  1. Gary Thompson10:32 AM

    Can a building process with a sub-par team even be considered a building process? I understand the need to work, but I fear that his talents may well be wasted by joining an organization who is not properly equipped to groom him at a very important stage in his career.

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    1. Anonymous10:45 AM

      What would YOU have done, considering that he had no other offers in any series?

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  2. Anonymous10:42 AM

    I have to laugh. When people were calling in on your show saying who should sub for Vickers, someone called in and said Burton. You said he didn't have enough experience. Now he's in Cup. You weren't entirely wrong......but you kind of are.....it just strikes me as funny.

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    1. Barrett12:24 PM

      Experience requisites for a ride with MWR versus a ride with BK Racing are drastically different, IMO.

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