Jeb Burton is jumping up to Cup
Burton, 22, will pilot the No. 26 Toyota for BK Racing, run for Sprint Cup rookie honors.
Jeb Burton
Getty Images
Jeb Burton is stepping up to the Sprint Cup Series.
The 22-year-old second-generation racer from Halifax, Va. will drive the No. 26 Toyota for BK Racing in 2015. He’ll make his Cup debut at Daytona International Speedway and will run for Rookie-of-the-Year honors.
Patrick Donohue will serve as Burton’s crew chief.
Jeb's success in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series along with his family's history in the sport makes his emergence into Cup a great story.
Anthony Marlowe
"We are very lucky to have a great, young talented driver like Jeb Burton in one of our NASCAR Sprint Cup cars," said BK Racing co-owner Anthony Marlowe. "It was important for us to find full-time anchor drivers for this season that are experienced and team-oriented.
"Jeb's success in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series along with his family's history in the sport makes his emergence into Cup a great story. The story, which also includes having a strong shot at winning Sunoco Rookie of the Year in 2015, has already proven to be very marketable. I look forward to seeing Jeb behind the wheel of the No. 26 Toyota Camry very soon. I think he is going to do great in the Daytona 500."
Burton ran the full Camping World Truck Series over the last two seasons. His first win came at Texas Motor Speedway driving for Turner Scott Motorsports in 2013. Burton earned seven poles, five top fives and 11 top 10s in his rookie season and finished fifth in the point standings.
Although Burton aligned with truck series champion team owners Thorsport last season, the transition proved to be a challenge. Burton fell short of his freshman numbers, posting two top fives, seven top 10s and an eighth-place finish in the standings.
Burton also has two starts in the Xfinity Series. He finished eighth with Steve Turner at Kentucky Motor Speedway in 2013 and 15th with Fred Biagi last year at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Burton joins veteran J.J. Yeley, who will pilot the No. 23 Dr. Pepper Toyota with Joe Williams calling the races. The 38-year-old Phoenix native has 220 Cup starts. He finished 10th in the 2013 Great American Race.
Johnny Sauter will attempt to qualify the No. 83 Toyota in the Daytona 500 for BKR. Sauter, 36, has five Cup starts at the 2.5-mile track with three top 20 finishes. He won the truck opener at Daytona in 2013. Veteran crew chief Doug Richert will be the crew chief for Sauter’s effort.
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments