Mark Martin pays heartfelt tribute to one of NASCAR’s most underrated drivers

Mark Martin, a legend in the world of NASCAR, recently shared a touching tribute to Jeff Burton. Known for his illustrious career and as one of the greatest drivers to never win a championship, Martin’s tribute carries a lot of weight.

With a career spanning more than three decades and 40 victories in NASCAR’s top division, Martin commanded respect on the racetrack.

Martin’s career has seen him compete alongside some of NASCAR’s biggest names, but when asked to name his best teammate during the “in the brandspodcast, it was Jeff Burton who topped his list. This is a great choice given the variety of iconic drivers Martin has worked with, such as Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. However, his choice of Burton points to a remarkable history of teamwork built over the years.

Martin and Burton’s partnership dates back to their time at Roush Racing from 1996 to 2004. The duo spent a considerable amount of time as teammates compared to each other, allowing them to forge a strong professional bond.

Martin has often acknowledged Burton’s ability to leverage overall team performance by putting collective success ahead of individual glory. Describing the connection they had on the track, Martin had this to say:

“We would all share information to varying degrees. In other words, your best friend would share everything, and that would be Jeff Burton. Why? Because Jeff shared everything with me… When Burton and I got together, it was “The guy was just the best teammate you could have.”

Jeff Burton’s career was solid in its own right. Competing in the Cup Series from 1993 to 2013, Burton earned 21 Cup Series victories and accumulated 134 top-ten finishes. An analytical driver, he was seen as someone who could offer detailed information and effective feedback, a great asset to Roush Racing during its golden years.

Martin appreciated Burton’s constant willingness to share information and offer support, characteristics they both considered essential to their shared success.

“He would run around and offer anything to try to help. That’s how he tried to build respect. He believed that if he gave, he could receive, so he was always trying to give. He had my best interest in my program at all times. “Jeff took care of me and my program, which really helped,” Martin said.

Roush Racing, now known as Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, enjoyed an incredible run of accomplishments thanks in part to the synergy between Martin and Burton. The team, founded by Jack Roush in 1988, has carved out a place in NASCAR history with championships and a host of wins across multiple series.

Since retiring from full-time racing in 2013, Mark Martin has remained connected to the racing world, supporting the next generation and staying committed to Late Model racing. His induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2017 confirmed his status as a legendary figure. Meanwhile, Burton’s talent has led him to turn to motorsport commentary, further demonstrating his versatile understanding of the sport.