NASCAR driver and former Elon student Ward Burton will receive the Elon Athletics Foundation’s first Phoenix Achievement Award Saturday, April 13, prior to the Textilease ASA 300 presented by Little Trees at Big Daddy’s South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Va. Elon will serve as presenting sponsor for the NASCAR Textilease Late Model Twin 50s races, which are being held in conjunction with the Textilease ASA 300 race.
Burton, a native of South Boston who attended Elon from 1981-83, won his first Daytona 500 race February 17. Burton’s victory at Daytona came after he avoided several crashes, including one just five laps before the finish. The win was Burton’s fourth career Winston Cup victory. Burton, who drives the number 22 Caterpillar Dodge for Bill Davis Racing, honed his driving skills at South Boston Speedway, beginning his career in Mini Stocks before graduating to the Late Model division. Burton captured four Late Model wins in three seasons and earned the speedway’s Most Popular Driver award in 1989. He joined the NASCAR Busch Series in 1990 and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 1994. In 255 career Winston Cup starts, Burton has 69 top 10 finishes.
Burton hosted a gathering of almost 100 Elon alumni, students and friends in April 2001 at Big Daddy’s South Boston Speedway. He signed autographs and answered questions from the group before the ASA Textilease Medique 300 at the speedway later that evening. Ten students in Elon’s sport management program coordinated, publicized and produced several race day events in conjunction with the race.
The Phoenix Achievement Award recognizes individuals, couples, corporations or groups associated with Elon University who have clearly excelled and achieved a distinguished goal in their community or chosen profession. The award is presented at the discretion of the EAF and its volunteer advisory board.
Speedway president Joe Mattioli is excited about Elon’s involvement. “My family and I have had a close relationship over the years, with my niece and nephew being Elon graduates,” Mattioli says. “Elon’s ‘Business of NASCAR’ courses are producing qualified motorsports professionals and we appreciate their contribution to the sport.”
Tickets for the event may be purchased online at the speedway Web site,www.southbostonspeedway.com, at www.tickets.com, or by calling the speedway
toll-free at (877) 440-1540.