A Look at the Orange Krush 200 Field.

For the first time in 12 years, NASCAR star Ward Burton will climb inside a race car and compete at Orange County Speedway in tonight’s Rogers Heating & Cooling Orange Krush 200 Invitational.

The race is to benefit the 62-year-old’s wildlife conservation organization, The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, founded in 1996 while Burton was still competing. He credits another driver – his son Jeb Burton – for getting him back into a race car.

While Burton is the headliner in the field at the North Carolina short track, he’s far from the only driver of note in the field. The invitational-only event features other recognizable names from NASCAR’s top divisions and the Late Model ranks.

Here are a few of the key drivers to follow in this evening’s event.

Ward Burton

Ward Burton had a successful career in the NASCAR Cup Series from 1994 through 2007, with five wins in 375 starts – most notably the 2002 Daytona 500. Before his victory in the Great American Race, Burton also prevailed in the 2001 Southern 500 at Darlington Speedway. He finished a career-best ninth in the Cup standings in 1999.

Burton also has a NASCAR national series win at Orange County. He led 259 of 300 laps to win a 1993 race at the track in what is now the Xfinity Series. It was the second of four Burton wins at the Xfinity level.

Jeremy Mayfield

Jeremy Mayfield is another recognizable name from the NASCAR Cup ranks. But the Kentuckian has largely flown under the radar since his controversial departure from the sport in 2009.

Rumors and various legal troubles have kept him away from the spotlight, though Mayfield has done some local racing over the years. He has also opened up on his NASCAR exit, particularly in an appearance on Dirty Mo Media’s “Dale Jr. Download” podcast.

Mayfield has five wins in his Cup career, the most notable coming in 2000 when he became one of the few drivers to move Dale Earnhardt Sr. to win a race at Pocono Raceway.

“He’s got me plenty of times, that’s the one time I got him,” Mayfield said at the time. “He can’t say a word.”

Jeb Burton

Jeb Burton is the son of Ward and a driver in the Xfinity Series. He is who his father credits for pushing him to race again and participate in this race.

Jeb Burton has found victory lane twice in the Xfinity Series, with both wins coming at Talladega Superspeedway in 2021 and…