Hailie Deegan‘s replacement, Harrison Burton, has made an immediate impact on AM Racing, especially following his standout performance at Texas Motor Speedway. After joining the team partway through the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, Burton quickly shifted the team’s focus from simply aiming for top-ten finishes to pushing for the top five, and even their first win. The transition came when Deegan left AM Racing after 17 events to pursue new opportunities in the Indy NXT Series, leaving the #25 Ford Mustang. That outing not only energized the team but also sent a strong message about their increasing competitive edge. Currently, with six top-ten and one top-five finish across 12 races, Burton sits tenth in the Xfinity Series standings with 307 points—an impressive feat in such a short amount of time with the team.
Looking back on the return to Rockingham Speedway after more than a decade, Burton remarked in an interview ahead of the North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black’s Tire race that the track has “a lot of character.” Sharing memories from his January practice session, Burton noted that AM Racing showed major improvement by topping one of the time charts, giving them crucial momentum before the race on April 19, 2025.
His performance at Rockingham was particularly dramatic. Despite starting 29th, Burton battled through the field and finished in third place, further reinforcing AM Racing’s rapid development since Hailie Deegan’s departure.
We made a lot of progress,
Burton explained, reflecting on the team’s efforts and the noticeable improvement in both speed and execution.
The effect of these strong results is already resonating through the garage area. As AM Racing becomes a regular contender near the front, hopes for their first-ever win are higher than ever. With Harrison Burton at the wheel, the team appears poised for even greater achievements this season. Fans and experts alike are watching closely as his journey with AM Racing unfolds, wondering if the momentum will carry them to an historic victory in the weeks ahead.
