FORT WORTH - Two weeks ago, Tabitha Burton, mother of Sprint Cup driver Jeb Burton and husband of former Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Jeb, driving for BK Racing in his rookie season in the Sprint Cup series, honored his mother by having the deck lid of his No. 26 Toyota painted to wish his her well. Friday morning Jeb tweeted a picture of the design.
Sporting pink on the decklid of the car this week in honor of my mom's fight against breast cancer. Love you mom! pic.twitter.com/qAll5T6uOg
— Jeb Burton (@JebBurtonRacing) April 10, 2015
After failing to qualify for Saturday’s Duck Commander 500, Burton told NASCAR Talk the deck lid was a surprise for his mother that day and he hadn’t heard from her yet.
Burton said he might keep the tribute for one more race.
NASCAR Talk spoke with Tabitha in February soon after Jeb was signed by BK Racing after he was dropped from his Camping World Truck Series ride.
She said it might be more emotional for her to see Jeb race in the Daytona 500 than it ever was watching Ward compete. Tabitha has been close by as Jeb made his way up from racing go-karts all the way to the Cup series.
“It’s a different level of anxiety being your child out there,” Tabitha said. “I think it’s hard because I’ve always been there.’’