One NASCAR Driver’s Key to Success? Kindness

Greg Crumpton lives by a simple mantra: Relationships drive business. Each week on Straight Outta Crumpton, Crumpton dives into the lost art of networking and speaks with the biggest influencers in business services to learn how they build, nurture and value their professional relationships.

 

On this episode of Straight Outta Crumpton, Host Tyler Kern and Greg Crumpton talked with former NASCAR driver Ward Burton, who won the 2002 Daytona 500. He now operates the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, whose mission is to conserve America’s Land and Wildlife through wise stewardship. They talk about his foundation, NASCAR, and how kindness benefits everyone.

Greg grew up watching Ward, just as Ward was also growing up, as they are near the same age. As Ward progressed through his NASCAR career, or Phase One of his life, according to Crumpton, he noted that he always admired how Burton handled his sponsorships. While growing up in Atlanta, Greg attended some of Ward’s races. But, Crumpton noted that professional athlete aside, he always admired how Burton carried himself and how he was a nice guy.

“It is really easy to be kind and available if they want a story about you, versus being the other way, so I was never aloof on any of that.” – Ward Burton

“In business and in personal life, that goes so far,” Crumpton said. “How you treat your people: your interviewers and your co-competitors. You set a good bar for that.”

Back in the days of print reporters in pit row and TV network reporters, Burton noted that those folks had a job to do, too.

“It is really easy to be kind and available if they want a story about you versus being the other way, so I was never aloof on any of that,” Burton said. He always took time to be available for requests because not only would you get a good message out about your team or partners, but it was about working together.

Make Sure to Follow Along for More Episodes of Straight Outta Crumpton!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

pillars
Discovering Your Guiding Pillars: Aligning Ambition with Wellbeing for a Purpose-Driven Career
October 28, 2025

Success without sacrifice—that’s what more leaders are striving for. As burnout rates climb among high-achieving professionals balancing leadership, entrepreneurship, and family, the question of how to build sustainable success without sacrificing health or identity has never been more timely. Gallup’s research shows that burnout is far from rare: roughly three-quarters of U.S. employees say…

Read More
HR Like a Boss
HR Like a Boss: Building Purpose-Driven, People-Focused, Profitable Teams
October 28, 2025

HR teams are navigating the tension between technology and empathy, discovering new ways to lead with purpose while keeping people at the heart of every transformation. Artificial intelligence, automation, and hybrid work models are rapidly reshaping workplace culture, pushing HR to evolve from administrative oversight to true strategic leadership. As a recent SHRM report…

Read More
appreciation
When Recognition Feels Real, Culture Thrives: The Quiet Power of Genuine Appreciation at Work
October 27, 2025

Employee appreciation is getting a much-needed rethink. Between hybrid teams, retention pressures, and a rising demand for authenticity at work, HR leaders are being asked to prove that recognition isn’t just a line item. According to Gallup, employees who feel they receive the right level of recognition are four times more likely to be…

Read More
benefits costs
External HR Support Can Help Small and Midsize Businesses Manage Rising Benefits Costs and Compliance Complexity
October 27, 2025

Healthcare costs are surging, and compliance landscapes are growing more complex across state lines. HR professionals are forced to rethink how they support both their people and their business strategy. Rising benefits costs, multi-state compliance, and talent retention pressures have converged to make HR one of the most critical and complex functions for small…

Read More