Harrison Burton endured a grueling ordeal during the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway, pushing through nearly 90 laps with fiberglass embedded in his neck and face after a dramatic crash. The Harrison Burton Daytona race survival story unfolded as the young driver, representing AM Racing, navigated a sequence of mishaps, yet finished ahead of key playoff rivals.
Burst of Fiberglass After Early Incident
The trouble began shortly after the opening laps when Burton’s No. 25 AM Racing Ford Mustang was spun on the backstretch of the 2.5-mile track. The crash tore apart pieces of the vehicle, hurling sharp fiberglass shards into the cockpit. Several of these fragments cut into Burton’s neck and even reached his eyes, leaving the 24-year-old in visible discomfort as he exited his smoldering car on pit road, repeatedly rubbing his neck and checking his hand for injuries.
Honestly, just probably scared me more than anything,
—Harrison Burton, NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver
I just felt a bunch of fiberglass hitting my neck. It hurts, but it’s fine. It’s just like little splinters more or less, so no big deal. I’m completely fine. I got it in my eye through my eye. I got it all over the place.
—Harrison Burton, NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver
The pit crew provided immediate care, addressing the fiberglass in his eye and on his face while a timely 10-lap rain delay gave Burton additional relief. This quick action proved crucial, as the irritation from fiberglass can linger and impair a driver‘s ability to continue.
I got it in my eye from the helmet fan and everything,
—Harrison Burton, NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver
But just thankful to our guys for helping me out, getting me stuff to kind of get it rinsed out of my eye. Like my eyes are fine, which is good. That stuff can linger.
—Harrison Burton, NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver
Communication Hurdles and Difficult Conditions
As if the fiberglass injuries were not enough, Burton and his team contended with a radio malfunction that disrupted driver-crew communication. Despite these setbacks—and nearly 90 laps still to cover following the reset—Burton resumed racing with determination. The team managed to recover in time for stage one, and by stage two, the No. 25 car impressively finished seventh, reaffirming AM Racing’s push to advance their position above the playoff cutline with only two races remaining in the season.
I just never really got much going other than riding around in like sixth to 10th,
—Harrison Burton, NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver
[I] should be okay on points. I really don’t know where everyone else finished, but we should at least be in the hunt, so it should be all right.
—Harrison Burton, NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver
This stage finish provided the team with much-needed points, especially valuable due to the ongoing playoff battle.
Late Race Accidents Thwart Further Progress
With only four laps to the checkered flag, a large crash unfolded ahead of Burton, involving more than ten drivers and collecting the AM Racing car in the chaos, knocking him down the field. The incident was highlighted by CW Sports, which captured the scope of damages that characterized the closing laps. Restarting near the back for the race’s single overtime attempt, Burton narrowly avoided further wrecks yet continued to face physical reminders of earlier impacts, with additional car fragments lodged from repeated collisions throughout the night.
Despite the string of misfortunes, Burton managed to cross the finish line in 16th place—an outcome that, given the circumstances, counted as a minor victory over several playoff cutline adversaries. His resilience was evident, even as he acknowledged the bizarre and challenging nature of his night at Daytona International Speedway.
Yeah, this was not too bad, so I’m all right.
—Harrison Burton, NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver
Endurance at Daytona Leaves Lasting Impression
Although the race did not end with a podium finish, the Harrison Burton Daytona race survival saga showcased the skill and perseverance required in professional racing. While the event added to Burton’s long list of unpredictable experiences behind the wheel—including everything from eye injuries caused by debris to unexpected equipment failures—it also provided AM Racing with important points and confidence heading into the season’s final playoff chase. The Daytona International Speedway, notorious for its high-speed drama, again proved both the unpredictability and the danger that faces every NASCAR driver.
Team members, rival drivers, and fans will remember Friday night’s result not only for the position on the leaderboard, but for the resilience and grit shown under extraordinary adversity. What comes next will see Burton and the AM Racing crew refocus as they battle for remaining playoff spots, carrying lessons of endurance and teamwork forged under the lights at Daytona Beach, Florida.
