The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series has been full of unpredictable moments, but few have matched the shock waves created by Harrison Burton‘s victory in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. Despite a poor season and the end of his time with Wood Brothers Racing (WBR), Burton recorded one of the most impressive wins of the year to secure a playoff spot. . Button’s victory was unexpected, not only after a disappointing season, but also because WBR had informed him that his contract would not be renewed until 2025. With just one top-10 finish at Talladega earlier this year, Burton’s future in The Cup Series looked bleak. WBR decided to replace him with a new driver. This means the 23-year-old has a lot of work to do to secure his racing future.
Despite the dire circumstances, Burton delivered when it mattered most. Going up against seasoned NASCAR legends like Kyle Busch, Burton showed his grit and determination as he held off the stiff competition in the final laps at Daytona. Not only did his win earn him a chance to advance to the playoffs, but it also had an impact on the NASCAR community. This caused admiration, surprise and frustration among fans.
The victory was especially painful for NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl Edwards, who was watching the race from home. In a candid moment, Edwards described the atmosphere in the house when Burton crossed the finish line that sparked his passion for the sport. “We were watching that race finish and when Harrison Burton won that race, the tension in the room was amazing. I saw my wife in tears and my excited son saying, “My God, this is what NASCAR is all about.” “It hurts my heart just to talk about it,” he said, expressing the emotions felt by many fans who saw Button fall short of expectations.
But while Button’s victory temporarily caught his eye, his future remained uncertain. Despite his accomplishments at Daytona, no Cup Series team approached the young driver. Despite it all, Burton made the bold decision to change his career and signed with AM Racing to compete in the Xfinity Series starting in 2025.
Burton described the move optimistically, seeing it as an opportunity to recoup and apply lessons learned in the Cup Series to improve AM Racing. “I am excited to join AM Racing and help build the team into a race winning team. I think this is a great opportunity for me to take what I learned in the Cup Series and bring it to the Xfinity Series and be the best driver I can be,” said Burton. “It is a blessing to continue my NASCAR journey and I plan to make the most of this opportunity.”
While some fans and pundits saw Burton’s move to the Xfinity Series as a step back, the 23-year-old is looking to prove himself once again. His win at Daytona may have been controversial, but it also showed Burton’s resilience and determination to keep fighting against the odds. Whether he can bring his Xfinity streak back to the Cup Series remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure. Harrison Burton isn’t done making NASCAR history just yet.
