Earlier at the Talladega Superspeedway, Austin Hill triumphed in a crazy last-lap finish. After winning, he said, “To be able to win here is super special. To finally win at all the different superspeedways that we go to, I really wanted to check that box off, knowing that we’ve won it all.” Though that was achieved after Connor Zilisch was spun out of the race lead, and there was a bit of confusion about who won. In the end, it was credited to Hill, much to the utter despair of Jeb Burton. The #27 driver finished as the runner-up behind Hill, but believed that he was the rightful winner.
Naturally, the Jordan Anderson Racing driver was very emotional about his loss, to the point that he was even in tears in his post-race interview. Truthfully, one could really understand why he was so upset, as he and Hill were three-wide with Jesse Love for the race win. So when the caution flag waved, there was that agonising wait to declare a winner, and two drivers were guaranteed to come away disappointed. And turns out, the bad luck ensued on Burton. But there was something that hurt him even more.
What would the win mean for the NASCAR driver?
Folks, since 2023, Jeb Burton has been doing his best to stay on top of his game. But he hasn’t been lucky enough. A close brush with victory is the last thing a driver would want. Burton was waiting to open his account for the first time since 2023, incidentally at Talladega. Even though officials declared Austin Hill the winner, Jeb Burton was adamant that he was the race winner. In light of this, the #27 driver was not about to let things slide, but was willing to fight for the win and lodge a protest.
On pit road, while he spoke of staging a protest if necessary, a reporter asked, “Can you see through the frustration, though, and see the positive day you guys had? You scored the third most points, and I know that’s very important to you.” In essence, he knew of the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ unpredictable nature and how chances to win don’t come by very often. So, he broke down.
With teary eyes and a shaky voice, Burton said, “Yeah, it’s just… we don’t have a lot of chances to win. And that’s what’s frustrating. That’s just it.” And then his emotions got the better of him as he walked out. The win at Talladega was so close that he could almost taste it, as he, Love, and Hill were three-wide. Unfortunately. The NASCAR race officials cruelly snatched it away and awarded the win to Austin Hill. He posted the interview on his X profile with the caption “Heart broken. “, and explained what the real matter was.
Heart broken. https://t.co/ficEJUpPjv
— Jeb Burton (@JebBurtonRacing) April 27, 2025
Conveying his pain, Jeb Burton said, “I feel like when the caution flew, I was ahead of the 21. I don’t know if we can call it or what. Last week at Rockingham, I got pretty screwed on a yellow, and put me back a row and today lose the race because I’m sure timing line. But, I don’t see the 21 ahead of me at all, any of this time, and right there, you can see my (car’s) nose being in front of the 21. I don’t know what we are looking at, but is it not in front of you?” Well, this is his cry for help from NASCAR officials. Because fans can only take his side, but cannot provide him justice. He also emphasized on the bigger factor for his heartbreak.
See, Jordan Anderson Racing isn’t a very big team. Compared to the big, burly, and experienced teams, JAR has limited opportunities to win. And that’s why it is more of a ‘robbery’ than ‘injustice’ for Burton. On the bright side, it could have been a whole lot worse for the driver if he had been caught in the wreck! He should also be thanking his lucky stars that his car also passed post-race inspection. A post-race disqualification is a surefire way to break a racing driver’s heart, like it did to Parker Kligerman. But nevertheless, fans have picked their sides already.
Many fans flocked to support the distraught Jeb Burton
The sight of an upset Jeb Burton was enough to tug and many people’s heartstrings. One fan consoled on Twitter, “The entire fanbase wished you won, that win coming.” Another gutted fan said, “I was rooting for you there. Tough break.” Some people also appreciated seeing the raw emotion: “It was a great run, and the post-race interview showed the world a race car driver.” Few also agonised how he just missed out on the win, “So damn close.” the same emotion resonated throughout the comments. After all, it’s a situation worth picking sides!
Additionally, a lot of motivational messages came through for the NASCAR driver. One fan said, “Keep swinging upward, you’ll get em champ.” Finally, one fan also agreed with Burton’s assessment, “I’ve ben watching racing for over 40 years .. you won that my dude.” In all, everyone was beseeching the #27 driver to keep being positive, and that win is likely just around the corner.
What do you think? Can Jeb Burton take the W in the next race? Let us know in the comments below.
The post Failing to Hold Back Tears on Air, Fans Lend Shoulder to Shattered Driver, Accusing NASCAR of ‘Robbery’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.