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HERE'S TO YOU, WARD BURTON

Monte Dutton
Gazette Sports Reporter



LOUDON, N.H. — My thought processes took a rather unusual turn on
Saturday. While looking up something about Joe Nemechek, I ended up
turning my attention to Ward Burton.
That's right. Ward Burton. The winner of the 2002 Daytona 500 and
four other Cup races. Older brother of Jeff. Thirty-second in the
points standings last year, 21st in 2003, 25th in 2002 and 14th in
2001.

In this year's Nextel Cup media guide. Burton isn't even listed. Not
even in the small print. Not even under "other drivers." Derrike
Cope, Ricky Craven, Ron Fellows, Brendan Gaughan, Shane Hmiel, P.J.
Jones, Randy LaJoie, Kevin Lepage, Tony Raines, Hermie Sadler, Morgan
Shepherd, Jimmy Spencer, Martin Truex Jr. and Kenny Wallace are all
listed under "other drivers," but Burton isn't.

Three years ago, Ward Burton won this race, the New England 300.
That's where Nemechek comes in. I remember that race, or thought I
did, because that's the day the pavement at New Hampshire
International Speedway started coming up in the middle of the race. A
number of cars skidded into the wall for no good reason. Rusty
Wallace said they ought to plow the place up and start all over.

Nemechek, by the way, did win here, but his victory was way back in
1999. I just got the races crossed up in my mind. When I thumbed
through the record book, expecting to find Nemechek listed as the
winner of the race, I instead found Ward Burton's name.

Oh, yeah.

Then I remembered my favorite New Hampshire story. I was sitting in
the press box one year during qualifying. I don't know why I was in
the press box because I'm usually in the infield during qualifying.
One of these wizened old New Englanders was sitting next to me. He
had the temerity to criticize Burton's soft Virginia dialect.

"I hope thaht Wahd Buhton doesn't win the pole," he said. "I cahn't
unduhstahnd a wuhd he sez."

I was flabbergasted, and when I managed to retrieve my straight face,
I turned to the gentleman and said, "Excuse me, sir, but if there's
anyone who ought to be able to understand Ward Burton, or anybody
else, for that matter, it's you."

I've seen Ward once all year. He hasn't retired. He just decided he
wasn't going to waste his time piddling around in a car that couldn't
win. He went back to Virginia, figuring he'd come back if a decent
opportunity arose.

It's rare in this sport to see someone just walk away. Usually the
decline and fall of racers is painful to watch. They hang around,
walking the garage, shaking hands and trying not to appear as
uncomfortable as they are.

I'm here. I'm available. I can drive your car. Draw up a contract.
Make me an offer.

Not Burton. He's off tramping through the woods somewhere, I expect.
Keeping himself busy with his wildlife foundation. Cutting wood to
get ready for a cold Virginia winter. Working outdoors. Training a
bird dog or something.

Meanwhile, here in another world, the world Ward Burton used to
occupy, there ought to be a market for him. The talk of NASCAR these
days is how there's such a shortage of talent. When Jack Roush tries
to figure out who's going to drive the No. 6 next year, I can't for
the life of me figure out why he hasn't thought of Ward Burton. Ward
isn't begging. He'd come back for the `6,' though.

There are potential openings at DEI, Ganassi, MB2, Penske and gosh
knows where else between now and season's end. By my count, out of
the current top 40 in the Nextel Cup points standings, there are at
least nine potential openings. In the game of musical chairs that is
already under way, it's not going to be the standard version
schoolkids play. In that game, there are always more kids than chairs
to sit in. The greater likelihood in NASCAR — this time, at least —
is that there are going to be seats with no one to occupy them.

Out of sight, out of mind? Perhaps. Maybe the fact that Burton isn't
out begging makes him seem threatening to the men who own the teams
and fill the seats. He's always been his own man.

Surely, though, they couldn't all be that stupid. The youth movement
is strong, but the talent is growing thin. The tide seems to be
turning, and all of a sudden, there are as many busts as booms out
there.

To me it seems absurd that Ward Burton is sitting at home chopping
wood and playing handyman around the house, if that's what he's
doing. To me, it would be really silly if another year rolled around
without him doing what he does best, which is driving a race car.

OK, OK, I admit it. I haven't ever gone hunting with him. Maybe he's
the world's best at that. He can shoot skeet. I did seem him do that
one time. Maybe he's got plenty of money, and he's grown tired of
putting up with the politics.

If Ward wants to race, though, somebody ought to be willing to let
him.


Contact Monte Dutton at hmdutton50@...


7/17/2005