From go-karts to NASCAR Winston Cup cars, Burton has seen plenty of success along the way. He’s become one of the sports most outspoken safety advocates and continues to dominate both on the track, with 17 total Winston Cup career wins and 20 Busch Series wins, and off the track, with his charitable work at Duke Children’s Hospital and continued dedication to his family.

His racing career began at the ripe age of seven when he began driving go-karts at South Boston Speedway in his hometown of South Boston, V.A. It wasn't long before Burton became the go-kart champion and soon began climbing the racing ranks in search of more success on the track. Burton’s Winston Cup career began in 1993 when he ran one race for owner Filbert Martocci. In 1994, Burton went on to join the Stavola Brothers team where he earned Rookie of the Year honors and finished 24th in the final point standing. That same year, he claimed two top-five and three top-10 finishes. Burton spent a second year with the Stavola Brothers in 1995 then joined owner Jack Roush in 1996.

In his first year with Roush Racing, Burton chalked up six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. Burton saw victory lane for the first time in a Winston Cup car in 1997 during the inaugural race at Texas Motor Speedway. He visited victory lane two more times and collected 13 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes while closing out his second year with Roush, finishing fourth in the overall Winston Cup point standings. Nineteen ninety seven also placed Burton into a Busch Series car for the first time under the ownership of Jack Roush. He began his Busch career in 1988 in a car owned by his father John Burton, winning his first Busch Series race in 1990 in a car owned by Sam Ard. From 1997 to 2002, Burton has run the No. 9 Busch car part time. He’s racked up 16 wins, 46 top-five and 62 top-10 finishes in just 79 Busch Series races with Roush Racing.

Burton continued his Winston Cup success with Roush by driving to victory lane twice in 1998 and six times in 1999 while accruing 18 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes each year. Continuing his consistency from 1998 to 1999, Burton finished fifth in the overall Winston Cup point standings for two consecutive years. Burton continued his success in 2000 making a strong run at the championship by winning four races and posting 15 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes. Burton would settle for third in the overall Winston Cup point standings.

Two thousand-one proved to be challenging for Burton and the No. 99 CITGO team. In the end, the team overcame the odds and made two trips to victory lane, once at the Coca-Cola 600 and for the second year in a row at Phoenix. The No. 99 CITGO team finished a strong 10th in the overall Winston Cup point standings and Burton also claimed eight top-five and 16 top-10 finishes.

Burton and the No. 99 team got off to a slow start in 2002 and finished the season 12th in the overall Winston Cup point standings. Burton took home five top-five and 14 top-10 finishes, almost half of which came during the last 11 races of the season under the new direction of crew chief Paul Andrews. Burton would have success in the No. 9 Busch Series car chalking up five wins, two poles, eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes in only 14 races.

The 2003 season was a rebuilding year for Burton and the No. 99 team. With a new over-the-wall pit crew Burton accrued three top-five and 12 top-10 finishes including one win at the Winston Open which launched him into the coveted all-star event, The Winston. At the end of the season Burton and the No. 99 team rallied from 15th place in the overall Winston Cup point standings to 12th.

"Two thousand-three was certainly not the year we were hoping for," said Burton. "It was a re-building year for us and even though we didn't get the results we wanted the guys worked hard week in and week out and we got better and better with each race. I think by the end of the year we were a lot more consistent so that's a good thing. A lot of times we were battling things that we had no control over like wrecks, mechanical failures, weather, on down the line. Although it’s not visible in the results, we did get better as a team and I think 2004 will be a real telling year for us."

Heading into the 2004 season the No. 99 Roush Racing team is hoping to claim race wins along with the title of first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion. If the team continues to build on 2003, they should be right up there in the mix.

“We've learned a lot over the last year and now there no more excuses." Burton continued, "We are a championship contending team, I truly believe that. This team has showed more dedication, tenacity and willingness to win than any other team and that will eventually pay off for us. I'm looking forward to 2004; I think it's going to be a great year for the No. 99 Roush Racing team."