Unrestricted
by Art Weinstein
Jeff Burton, hall of famer
March 17, 2008
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Jeff Burton has a spot waiting for him in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Burton’s Sprint Cup victory Sunday at Bristol was the 20th of his career.
When the NASCAR Hall of Fame opens in Charlotte a couple of years from now, it’s possible it will have tougher standards than the existing halls of fame, most prominent of which is the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, located at Darlington Raceway. But if that HOF is any guideline, Burton is a shoo-in for induction.
For starters, everyone ahead of Burton on the NASCAR Cup career wins list is in the NMPA Hall of Fame (with the exception of several active or recently retired drivers, such as Terry Labonte). Also, a number of drivers behind Burton on the all-time list are also enshrined, such as Davey Allison and Buddy Baker (19 career victories) and Harry Gant (18 wins). That’s among drivers who never won a series championship. Alan Kulwicki, with only five career wins, was inducted mainly on the basis of his 1992 Cup championship.
Burton probably has a few more victories in him, possibly even a series championship. But if he retired tomorrow, he’s already got HOF credentials.
Although he has never won a NASCAR Cup championship, or a Daytona 500, he’s been consistently good for a long period of time, with seven top-10 finishes in the point standings. He’s also one of the most respected figures in the sport, an intangible asset that should count for something with future HOF voters.
Burton’s Sprint Cup victory Sunday at Bristol was the 20th of his career.
When the NASCAR Hall of Fame opens in Charlotte a couple of years from now, it’s possible it will have tougher standards than the existing halls of fame, most prominent of which is the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, located at Darlington Raceway. But if that HOF is any guideline, Burton is a shoo-in for induction.
For starters, everyone ahead of Burton on the NASCAR Cup career wins list is in the NMPA Hall of Fame (with the exception of several active or recently retired drivers, such as Terry Labonte). Also, a number of drivers behind Burton on the all-time list are also enshrined, such as Davey Allison and Buddy Baker (19 career victories) and Harry Gant (18 wins). That’s among drivers who never won a series championship. Alan Kulwicki, with only five career wins, was inducted mainly on the basis of his 1992 Cup championship.
Burton probably has a few more victories in him, possibly even a series championship. But if he retired tomorrow, he’s already got HOF credentials.
Although he has never won a NASCAR Cup championship, or a Daytona 500, he’s been consistently good for a long period of time, with seven top-10 finishes in the point standings. He’s also one of the most respected figures in the sport, an intangible asset that should count for something with future HOF voters.
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