NASCAR star Jeff Burton ready to serve

NASCAR’s Jeff Burton may not be ready to place his name for nomination quite yet, but during a media event at Richmond International Raceway today he made it clear to our Joe Sullivan that politics could be a post-race career option.

“I have not served my country, and that is something I need to do,” Burton said. “So when I step back from this, than that is what I am going to set out to do.”

Burton’s interest in politics and government is well-known around NASCAR tracks and he has flirted with the idea of running for office in interviews in the past.  The South Boston native has been known to wade into complex political controversies, that most of his counterparts would probably not dare.  It was clear from his comments today, that he feels that he needs to contribute to his country in a meaningful way.

“I never served in the military,” said the driver of the number 31 Caterpillar Chevy. “I lived my life to be the best NASCAR driver and a good husband and father. That has been my mission.”

Burton spent a brief moment with Republican Governor Bob McDonnell at the NASCAR events in Martinsville last month. He and McDonnell did not talk politics, but the Governor did chat about his political ambitious with Burton’s parents, who still live in Virginia.

While in the past, Burton has said that he had his eye on a Senate seat, this time around he left his future plans a lot wider open.

“I don’t know if that is going to be in the political arena, I don’t know if it is going to be volunteering. I don’t know what that means, other than to say, I haven’t done my part.”

You can see Burton’s entire comments below:

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