Harrison Burton delivered a crucial performance at Iowa Speedway on Saturday, fighting his way to a fourth-place finish that revitalized his bid for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs. With this result, the AM Racing driver reclaimed a top twelve spot in the playoff standings, positioning himself ahead of the elimination line and advancing his Harrison Burton Iowa Xfinity Playoff push in Newton, Iowa.
Burton’s Iowa Comeback Ignites Playoff Momentum
Saturday’s event marked a turning point for Burton and the No. 25 Ford team, as they entered the one-day Iowa Speedway show determined to secure valuable playoff points. Although the outright win eluded the crew, Burton’s second top-five finish of 2025 was enough to return him to postseason contention. After solid practice runs—posting the second-fastest single lap—the team started 17th in qualifying, relying on their proven short-run pace to challenge the field in the race’s critical moments.
Early in the day, Burton recognized the importance of tire management and poised aggression, noting the track’s single-groove nature and the challenges it presents.
“I could get aggressive, go three-wide kind of at the end there and make that work, but I kind of fell off as a subsequent cost of that. That was kind of our story all day. I had to manage our car a lot, keep the right-front tire on it all day, and, man, it’s rewarding. I feel like this package and this car, even though it’s a single-groove track and hard to pass, there’s a lot you can do as a driver, so it’s rewarding to see the results of that, and the results of all of our team’s hard work.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Pivotal Moments on the Track and Pit Road
The race’s decisive phase arrived late in the final stage when Burton lost several positions on pit road following a caution brought out by Daniel Dye on Lap 202. That setback initially pushed him outside the top ten, but Burton remained focused on regaining lost ground.
Veteran spotter Kevin Hamlin played a critical role in Burton’s comeback by providing timely guidance just as a collision between Matt DiBenedetto and Corey Day triggered chaos on track with 27 laps to go. Smoke poured from DiBenedetto’s Chevrolet, and shortly afterward, Ross Chastain’s slide, combined with oil on the track, led to Brandon Jones spinning out. At this crucial moment, Hamlin urged Burton to maintain a low line, allowing him to navigate the melee and capitalize on the following restart.
“Ross, he ran in there and ran high. We got him, the 20 (Jones). That’s two spots, and that’s a whole row you gain on a restart and gives me the chance to go get three-wide, pass up to third and kind of defend from there. Just a huge, huge moment for us in the race.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Standings Shakeup and Playoff Picture
Burton’s top-five finish elevated him to 12th in the provisional Xfinity playoff field, now 17 points ahead of Ryan Sieg, who also moved above the elimination line. The shakeup meant passing Burton’s own cousin, Jeb Burton, who started the day with a ten-point winning margin but fell outside the playoffs after struggling for speed and finishing 29th in his Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet, now 19 points away from postseason qualification. The race’s result underscored the unstable nature of the standings as the season’s final stretch approaches.
With two road courses and the unpredictable Daytona International Speedway remaining before the playoffs officially begin, Burton knows that his position is anything but guaranteed. He acknowledged the looming risk of a surprise winner or an unexpected point shakeup, reflecting the uncertainty and fierce competition as the cutoff grows closer.
“This isn’t it. There’s a lot of racing left to go, so we have to just stay status quo and stay hungry,”
Burton said.
“I’ve been in these situations before, and you can never guess on what’s going to happen. The 18 [William Sawalich] was fast today. He could have won. There’s all kinds of things that could happen where the cutline could get moved. We have to go try and win one of these things, and it’s nice to be getting closer, but we just have to keep pushing.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Teamwork and Determination Power Burton’s Charge
As the dust settles on a demanding day in Iowa, Burton credits his AM Racing team’s relentless drive and commitment for enabling his strong finish. Despite being a single-car operation with limited personnel, the group overcame obstacles and delivered when it mattered most. Burton’s appreciation extends to every crew member whose behind-the-scenes efforts paved the way for the team’s results.
“Just really proud of our race team. We are doing a lot with the little number of people that we have,”
Burton said.
“Gosh, they work their butts off and they’re [up] late, loading up and try to get going. When they put their heart and soul into it, this is what we see, and I’ll try and do the same for them. It’s really, really fun.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Next Steps as Playoff Battle Intensifies
With his Harrison Burton Iowa Xfinity Playoff push reignited, Burton heads home to North Carolina with optimism, though he remains well aware of the uncertain road ahead. As other contenders like Ryan Sieg and William Sawalich continue their own postseason campaigns and Jeb Burton looks to rebound, the pressure is on every lap and every pit stop. The upcoming road courses and the drama of Daytona are certain to test even the most consistent drivers and race teams.
The rally at Iowa underscores not just Burton’s resolve but also the collective determination of drivers, crew members, spotters like Kevin Hamlin, and organizations striving for a shot at NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff glory. For Harrison Burton, the fight continues—one race, one point, and one finish at a time.
