Jeff Burton splits with Richard Childress Racing NASCAR team
NASCAR Sprint Cup veteran Jeff Burton is parting company with Richard Childress Racing and believes it is in the team's best interests
The 46-year-old said that he had originally told team owner Richard Childress that he intended to scale back on his racing at the end of 2014.
He decided to bring the move forward after it became apparent that the funding was not in place to fully support his drive next year.
"The harsh realities are we've gone into next year, [and] there was a lot of funding that wasn't in place," said Burton, who is currently 20th in the standings.
"I had gone to Richard a while ago and told him that at the end of 2014 that I was going to step back and probably not run full schedules anymore and look at maybe running some partial schedules or look at other opportunities.
"So we're just accelerating it a year early to give the team a chance to continue to move forward, to put the funding in place with a really good driver that can go out and be successful."
Burton said that he expects Childress to continue to run four cars next year with his place being taken by a driver who can fully fund the seat, although he refused to reveal any details about whether such a driver has already been signed.
2014 PLANS UNCLEAR
His own plans also remain up in the air, although he said he would like to continue in Cup in some capacity provided that he can find a competitive situation.
"I don't have any plans, contrary to reports." he said. "I have not spoken to any team. I don't know what I'm going to do next year. We're just going to have to motor our way through it a little bit.
"I still love racing. I still have a passion for it.
"I don't anticipate doing something that I don't think will be competitive. I don't mind building something. Actually, I enjoy that. But at 46, that's probably not something I look forward to.
"So I'd like to be in a situation that can be successful, and I don't mind building something, but it can't be from the bottom."
Burton has won 21 races during his Cup career, the most recent coming at Charlotte in 2008.
Tony Stewart optimistic of recovering in time for 2014 Daytona 500
Richmond NASCAR: Jeff Gordon takes pole for Chase-deciding race
The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team
Saddled with uncompetitive Minardi machinery, Tarso Marques didn't manage to score points in his three partial seasons of Formula 1. But now the Brazilian has the chance to show what he can do in NASCAR, and explains the story of his comeback with new Cup Series entrant Team Stange
The early benefits and challenges of NASCAR's Next Gen car
NASCAR’s new stock car generation is encouraging an influx of fresh blood into its top tier. But there are concerns that parts are in short supply as the entire paddock tries to build up stocks at the same time
How Penske's rookie sensation opened NASCAR's new era in style
After holding his nerve and hip-checking his team-mate on the run to the line, Austin Cindric made a perfect start to life as a full-timer in the NASCAR Cup Series by winning the Daytona 500. Here's how the Penske Ford man emerged first across the line in the first points-scoring race for the much-anticipated Next Generation cars
Six key themes to follow in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season
There are plenty of uncertainties ahead of the 2022 NASCAR Cup season as an all-new fleet of cars take to the track for the first time. Ahead of this weekend's Daytona 500, our experts explain what you need to know
How NASCAR had to learn a harsh lesson ahead of its Next Gen arrival
The NASCAR Cup kicks off with the Daytona 500 this weekend, but a major overhaul and a subsequent mountain of work has been required to be ready for the arrival of the Next Gen cars
How Larson took the long way round to NASCAR Cup glory
From villain to hero, Kyle Larson’s journey to the 2021 NASCAR Cup title comes straight from the Hollywood blockbuster scripts. While Larson had to reach his lifelong goal the hard way and go through a very public shaming after a ban for using a racial slur, his talents shone long before his name grabbed the headlines for both the right and the wrong reasons
How NASCAR is gearing up for its "biggest change" in 2022
It’s not just Formula 1 that’s set for upheaval in 2022, as the NASCAR Cup Series adopts its Next Gen cars that will cast any in-built advantages aside and require teams to adopt a totally new way of operating. Far more than just a change of machinery, the new cars amount to a shift in NASCAR's core philosophy
Why Bubba Wallace’s Talladega win is such a big moment for NASCAR
Bubba Wallace claimed his maiden NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega on Monday to become the first Black victor in the category since Wendell Scott in 1963. Both Wallace and Scott had faced obstacles and racism in their paths to their breakthrough wins, and NASCAR is trying to put it right with its range of diversity programmes