With a history over a century long it comes as little surprise that a wide range of Hall of Fame drivers have visited victory lane at The Historic Bloomington Speedway. This honor roll extends from the 1920s and in decades to come many of the talented people we will witness during the 2025 season will also be widely recognized as among the all-time greats. The late Josh Burton, with a career far too brief will not be found on such lists. Because this is objectively true, inquisitive minds may dig deeper to learn more about this young man and why he matters so deeply to those who watched him race or competed alongside him. You see, sometimes mere numbers tell only a fraction of the story. Sometimes the impact one makes in this world is less tangible than spiritual. We often forget that greatness is not just a matter of wins, trophies and titles. Those accomplishments are personal and one-dimensional. What truly endures is when you continue to live in the hearts and minds of the people you touched on this short journey we call life.
Here are the base facts. Joshua Lee Burton was born on April 4, 1991, in Bloomington, Indiana to parents Jerry and Darlene. He passed on May 25, 2013, as a result of injuries suffered while behind the wheel of a sprint car at Bloomington Speedway. Race drivers understand that serious injuries and death while rare are always possible. As resilient beings they have an incredible ability to block all of this from memory and move on when bad things happen. That said, this loss cut very deep.
Racing was in the Burton family blood. Josh’s father Jerry grew up about a mile from the legendary Indiana owner Jerry Shields. He watched a constant parade of larger than life racers pass through his neighborhood. His mother loved watching Steve Kinser compete, and for a time, Jerry pondered giving racing a try. He rented Lincoln Park Speedway to test the water but quickly decided he lacked the requisite talent. “Speed,” he said, “didn’t bother me. It was the finesse, and I could see there was a lot to learn.”
Because the family took in the races at Bloomington and beyond young Josh became hypnotized by the sight and sound of sprint cars. He was riding a bike on his own at three, and two years later he was racing four wheelers. It was obvious that he wasn’t going to stop there. Next came karts, then stock cars, and then he fulfilled a dream by getting in a sprint car at 19 years old. On June 16, 2012, he visited victory lane at Lincoln Park Speedway. Less than two months later he was back on that hallowed ground again. In a signature accomplishment in that season, he was the Rookie of the Year at both Bloomington and Lincoln Park Speedway.
Once again this is only a fraction of the story. Burton almost commanded attention. His car was an eye-popping green and orange. Adding to all of this Josh was famous for painting the Hoosier logo orange on his tires, and for wearing two different color socks. Josh lit up the pit area with his endearing personality, and he was extraordinarily popular among his peers.
He was a member of the International Union of Bricklayer’s and Allied Craftworker’s Local #4 of Indiana and Kentucky and worked at Jerry Burton Masonry. This was a throwback team that had more in common with the racing scene in the 1960s and 1970s than was the norm in the 21st century. The Burton’s didn’t live in a large house or have unlimited resources. The truth is racing required sacrifices among all, and where other families might take extended and lavish vacations in this brood money went back into the race car. Sometime after his son had passed Jerry Burton noted, “People just don’t understand how much passion Josh had for racing. Racing was his life. He had reached his dream. He didn’t want to go to NASCAR because his dream was fulfilled by being able to race sprint cars. He would turn a car over and he would tell me not to pay him and just put it in the car. Of course I didn’t do that.”
The next race after Josh was gone every single sprint car driver in the field painted their tires orange, and many wore two different colored socks. The first Josh Burton Memorial was one of the greatest moments in the history of Bloomington Speedway. It was a reminder to every one of the soul of this sport. Josh represented so much that is good in racing and he brought that out in others. He was special, and his peers knew it.
It was one moment in time, one moment to celebrate, and a moment to grieve. The inaugural Josh Burton Memorial could have been a onetime event. Those who thought this was possible simply didn’t understand the resolve of this family. They were far from finished. Jerry Burton steeled his nerves, rolled up his sleeves and got back to work. Many wins and championships have followed. When it came to the annual race in so many ways the constant and steady heartbeat was the late Darlene Burton. Darlene worked tirelessly to keep this race and her son’s memory alive. Her passion was to make the tenth annual race the biggest ever. Darlene fought cancer tooth and nail to be on hand for the 10th Annual Josh Burton Memorial but on March 30, 2023, she could go no farther. Nonetheless, her wish was fulfilled.
In the face of the most challenging times for this family they offered a glimpse of how to go forward. We came to understand through them how one can be strengthened amid adversity. In so many ways Darlene was the absolute rock as we worked through this process. She channeled her sorrow into good deeds that honored the memory of Josh and allowed us to access our better selves. Racing is often an exercise in perseverance as is life. We rejoiced when this family succeeded, and we also shared their disappointments and sorrows. We have also done this as a community – and we are doing again on May 23, 2025. A dozen years after a difficult moment in so many lives we once again elevate Josh in our heart and wrap our arms around this family.
We’re racers. This is what we do. This is why the Josh Burton Memorial matters. This is why the 2025 edition should be the biggest and best on record.
Josh Burton photo John Mahoney Darlene Burton B. Raines Photography
- administrator on May 13, 2025
- Article Date: 5/12/2025 by Patrick Sullivan