Veteran Ward Burton Echoes Joey Logano’s Blunt Reality Check on Modern Day NASCAR

Something’s been brewing in NASCAR lately, and it’s got more than a few old-school fans nodding along. Turns out, one of the sport’s respected veterans, Ward Burton, is not too happy with how today’s young drivers are carrying themselves on the track. And honestly, he might just have a point.

The 62-year-old former Daytona 500 winner had some sharp words for the young drivers tearing it up in today’s Xfinity and Cup Series.

Ward Burton Talks About How Different It Was During His Racing Days

Burton isn’t some grumpy ex-driver stuck in the past. This guy won the 2002 Daytona 500 and had a solid Cup career, racking up five wins. But what really sets him apart is his no-nonsense attitude and deep love for the sport. He entered the Xfinity Series at 29, and Cup a little later at 33, and did it all the hard way—by earning his stripes.

But these days, Burton’s got his eyebrows raised. Because some of the newer drivers seem to be skipping that “earn your respect” phase entirely, since they feel entitled after bringing a lot of sponsorship money for these teams.

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In a podcast , earlier this month, he didn’t hold back. He pointed at the mess that was the Xfinity Series race at Martinsville as a prime example. Wrecks, bumping, overly aggressive moves—it’s like a demolition derby with million-dollar cars. “The young men coming into these series don’t show the ones that’s been running these series the respect that I used to show when I first got to the Busch Series or I first got to the Winston Cup Series,” Burton said.

“Particularly in the Xfinity Series, in the Cup Series, they just don’t have that kind of respect,” he added.

Big Wallets, Bigger egos?

One of the most eyebrow-raising things Burton said had to do with money. He echoed something Joey Logano had once mentioned—young drivers with giant sponsors behind them don’t face the same consequences. Crashing a car with no consequences, since another one’s waiting for you next weekend. Their sponsorship dollars make them feel untouchable, even more powerful than the actual team owners sometimes.

And let’s be real, this isn’t just a NASCAR problem. Other motorsport series such as Formula One’s had its fair share too—just ask fans about Lance Stroll or Nikita Mazepin. It’s a worldwide issue: money buys seats, and soon after, ego follows.
What’s Next in NASCAR for These Such Drivers?

Burton isn’t trying to start a war. But he’s reminding everyone—especially the hotshots in the Xfinity and Cup Series—that NASCAR was built on respect, grit, and lessons learned the hard way. Both talent and money matter. But so does humility.

Maybe it’s time some of these rising stars listened to the guys who helped build the sport, whom they’re now speeding through with some big bucks.