Race Weekend Central

Off the Wall With: Ward Burton

Welcome to Off the Wall With…, where we ask your favorite drivers five questions that are… well, off the wall! We’ll check in with a different driver each week to get a peek into life outside the race car. This week, former Sprint Cup driver and current Sprint Cup dad Ward Burton stops by.

What’s fun besides racing?

Ward Burton: Stay the hell away from a racetrack right now.

What’s the top item on your bucket list?

Burton: Before I die, I have a whole bunch of things to do. Get all three of my children in a good situation in their lives. My wife has a health issue right now, get her well. Accomplish as much as I possibly can with my Wildlife Foundation.

Your go-to on movie night is:

Burton: I don’t watch a whole lot of TV. I like watching documentaries on American military history.

What’s one item that’s always in your grocery bag?

Burton: Six pack of Yuengling.

Most memorable fan interaction?

Burton: I tell you, one thing I miss about racing is the interaction with children. I never, no matter how busy I was, when I was wearing that suit I never passed up a child. I met some kids in Kansas one time. They had some health issues. I met their parents after the autograph session. Myself, my sponsor and the Shriners Club got those kids an operation to fix their issues.

What’s fun besides racing? What’s the top item on your bucket list? Your go-to on movie night: One item that’s always in your grocery bag? Most memorable fan interaction:
Cole Whitt Fishing Visiting Bora Bora God’s Not Dead Ground Turkey Getting called by the wrong name
Joey Logano

 

Nothing Winning a Martinsville clock Miracle Yogurt Signing an arm so they could have it tattooed on
Ron Capps Watching other racing Going into space Something with Will Ferrell in it A receipt Visiting the Zoo at Brainerd
Casey Mears Playing with my kids Winning another Sprint Cup race Good Will Hunting Eggs Meeting with U.S. soldiers
Alexis DeJoria Family adventures Bungee jumping Something horror or sci fi Vegetable juices A fan who cried when she met me
Ryan Newman Anything outdoors Nothing-enjoy life every day! Tombstone Bread Anytime a kid asks a question
David Gilliland Riding 4-wheelers Deep-sea fishing in Alaska Days of Thunder Bananas Getting mistaken for Travis Kvapil (happens a lot)
Fast Jack Beckman Surfing Skydiving Any movie, especially action or sci-fi Bananas Hanging out with 11-year-old Jacob Delling
Brad Keselowski Personal growth Winning another Cup title Forrest Gump Flowers for my girlfriend All of them-it’s not fair to rate them!
Spencer Massey Traveling and driving Winning an NHRA Mello Yello title Caddyshack Frozen pizzas Their reaction to Gatornationals win
Brendan Gaughan Kids SCUBA diving in the Galapagos Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs, and The Princess Bride Toilet paper Too many to choose from
J.R. Todd Hanging with high school buddies Winning an NHRA championship Get Hard Water There’s one oddball at every race…
Landon Cassill Anything outside Visiting Europe Game of Thrones on Netflix Avocados A little girl named Riley
Del Worsham Boating Nothing; done it all A drama Milk Sharing 10,000 HP margarita machine with them
Austin Dillon Playing soccer Flying an F-16 fighter jet Top Gun Coca-Cola Signing a baby
Richard Childress Something outdoors Winning another Cup championship Something with Clint Eastwood Childress Vineyards wine A lot of them!
Morgan Shepherd Roller skating Getting the No. 89 in some more races Doesn’t watch movies Broccoli and carrots A girl who wanted her underwear signed
Matt DiBenedetto Driving my Corvette and playing raquetball Racing in the Sprint Cup Series Days of Thunder Steak Whenever people appreciate you
Carl Edwards Backpacking Winning the Cup championship / base jumping Smokey and the Bandit Cereal…lots of cereal When little kids come up who love the sport
Matt Hagan Farming Taking part in a tractor pull American Sniper Steak Having someone propose in the pits
Ward Burton Being away from the track Knowing family is in a good place Military documentaries 6-pack of Yuengling All the kids

 

 

About the author

What is it that Mike Neff doesn’t do? The writer, radio contributor and racetrack announcer coordinates the site’s local short track coverage, hitting up Saturday Night Specials across the country while tracking the sport’s future racing stars. The writer for our signature Cup post-race column, Thinkin’ Out Loud (Mondays) also sits down with Cup crew chiefs to talk shop every Friday with Tech Talk. Mike announces several shows each year for the Good Guys Rod and Custom Association. He also pops up everywhere from PRN Pit Reporters and the Press Box with Alan Smothers to SIRIUS XM Radio. He has announced at tracks all over the Southeast, starting at Millbridge Speedway. He's also announced at East Lincoln Speedway, Concord Speedway, Tri-County Speedway, Caraway Speedway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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Tony Geinzer

I like the mentality of Ward Burton even now, and thinking of the kids is something a lot of pros forget nowadays. And, trying to make sure the adult kids are in a good spot besides being “On Their Own” is something the Older Adults don’t always think of.

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