Default payment jeopardizes Jeb Burton’s title hopes

Jeb Burton–pictured here at Rockingham Speedway in 2013–will no longer be carrying this paint scheme.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Mike Kalasnik

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After each race, every driver thanks all of their sponsors in their post-race interviews. It seems like a ridiculous ritual, but sponsorship plays a major role in the sport of NASCAR.

Exhibit A: Jeb Burton. Last season, Burton had an impressive rookie season in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series. He recorded his first career win, five top-fives, and 11 top-tens. Burton also displayed that he could stay out of trouble. He failed to finish only one of the 22 races on the season. Burton’s performance led to a fifth place finish in the championship standings.

During the offseason, 2012 series champion James Buescher and Ty Dillon–respectively second and third in the standings–moved to NASCAR’s Nationwide series. Burton’s team was very excited for the 2014 season, as they appeared to be one of the favorites for the championship.