Harrison Burton and AM Racing are preparing for a pivotal moment in their 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign as they head to Portland International Raceway for the Pacific Office Automation 147. With the Harrison Burton AM Racing Xfinity Preview at the forefront, this event could define their postseason hopes as the team holds onto the final playoff spot entering the intense closing stretch of the regular season.
AM Racing’s Development and New Partnership Milestones
AM Racing is set to embark on its third year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Harrison Burton at the wheel for every race in the 2025 season, starting with the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in February. Burton, a familiar name in NASCAR Cup Series circles, returns to Xfinity competition after three years with Wood Brothers Racing, bringing both experience and a drive for results to the organization. In September 2024, AM Racing confirmed that Burton, a Huntersville, N.C. native and past Cup Series winner, would drive the No. 25 Ford Mustang full-time beginning in 2025, cementing the team’s ambitious plans moving forward.
Burton’s transition back to Xfinity reunites him with Ford Performance and a new stage of his career after 108 Cup Series starts. For AM Racing, this marks another step in the team’s steady expansion and maturation since its Xfinity debut, now enhanced by the addition of a proven driver eager to leave a mark on the season.
Continuing Support from AirBox and Key Partners
A major story surrounding AM Racing’s 2025 effort is the expanded partnership with AirBox, which will act as the primary sponsor for the No. 25 Ford Mustang in Portland, marking its fourth such role this season. AirBox, a leader in commercial indoor air quality solutions, is based in North Carolina and specializes in advanced air purification and energy-efficient ventilation strategies, drawing on scientific expertise and HEPA filtration technology manufactured locally.
This commitment marks AirBox’s continued influence in the NASCAR landscape, with the Portland round adding to high-visibility appearances at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Sonoma Raceway, and Watkins Glen International earlier in the year. The association underscores AirBox’s strategy to support AM Racing’s charge towards better results and public health awareness within the motorsports community.
The 25th race of the year further cements the relationship between team and company, as AM Racing credits additional partners such as Blue Wolf Cleaner & Degreasers, Dead On Tools, DEX Imaging, Eagle Rentals, Flying Circle, Mechanix Wear, Morton Buildings, Racing Radios, Volt Batteries, and WIX Filters for their sustained support through the demanding season.
The Playoff Race Intensifies Ahead of Portland Showdown
As the Xfinity Series heads to Portland for the fifth road course race of the season, the stakes could not be higher. This weekend’s event precedes just two remaining opportunities, including the finale at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, for drivers and teams to secure the final 12 spots in the postseason. Action in Portland follows a fiercely contested superspeedway battle at Daytona International Speedway and leads straight into a Midwest showdown in St. Louis—as the pressure around the cutline tightens.
This year, the penultimate road course event at Portland adds another challenge: non-competitive, controlled pit stops, making position on track and restart execution even more critical for contenders clinging to playoff hopes. For Burton and AM Racing, the picture is clear—they sit 12th in the standings, holding a 36-point advantage over Jeb Burton of Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport. Ryan Sieg and RSS Racing are also in close pursuit, trailing by 56 points. Every lap and point will count, with the series’ playoff berths hanging in the balance.
Harrison Burton’s Debut at Portland International Raceway
The Pacific Office Automation 147 will be Harrison Burton’s first Xfinity Series appearance at the 12-turn, 1.967-mile road course in Oregon. Although new to the circuit, Burton has relied on his solid season average of 15.9 to secure nine top-10 finishes in 2025 and aims to reach double digits at Portland. The challenge for the No. 25 Ford Mustang team will be quickly mastering the unique rhythm and strategy demands of a track unfamiliar to the driver but crucial to the playoff chase.
This weekend also marks the last standalone Xfinity race of the 2025 season, further emphasizing the pressure for teams like AM Racing who have everything to gain—or lose—through split-second decisions and consistent execution. The additional factor of non-competitive pit stops alters the usual dynamic, placing an even greater premium on starting position, flawless restarts, and staying out of trouble across the 75-lap event.
Burton’s Xfinity Series Record and Racing Background
Heading into the weekend, Burton has accumulated 99 Xfinity Series starts with four victories—all achieved during the 2020 season at Auto Club Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Martinsville Speedway. Boasting 28 top-five and 58 top-10 results, the 24-year-old driver has twice finished eighth in the series championship standings, further underlining his credentials as a playoff-caliber competitor.
Burton carries an average Xfinity Series finishing position of 12.4, reflecting his reliability and competitiveness over four years. The son of NASCAR veteran and current television analyst Jeff Burton, he also brings experience from 109 NASCAR Cup Series starts, 40 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series events, and more than 50 appearances in the ARCA Menards Series, refining his abilities across nearly every facet of national-level stock car racing.
Reviewing Recent Performances and Adversity at Daytona
Burton and AM Racing enter Portland following a demanding outing at the Daytona International Speedway during the Wawa 250. With no practice before qualifying—postponed by a persistent lightning threat—Burton started eighth based on NASCAR’s performance metric. Early in the race, contact from another competitor sent him spinning, causing him to lose two laps while dealing with tire issues. Despite this setback, fortune changed as Burton returned to the lead lap by Stage 2 and earned valuable stage points with an eighth-place finish in the segment.
Maintaining his fighting spirit, Burton rejoined the race among the leaders and pushed for a top-10 result, but a late-race collision while avoiding a major incident caused more damage, requiring another pit stop for repairs. Despite the adversity, he survived multiple late-race crashes and ultimately secured a hard-fought 16th-place finish, ensuring the team’s playoff hopes remained on track through determination and resilience.
Veteran Leadership from Crew Chief Danny Efland
A critical component in AM Racing’s playoff aspirations is the involvement of crew chief Danny Efland. A former race engineer and Xfinity Series driver himself, Efland takes on his 29th career race in a crew chief capacity, with Portland marking his first time leading a team at this challenging venue. His past work includes one pole, three top-five, and ten top-10 results across 28 races, highlighting the steady influence and technical know-how he offers from the pit box as the team eyes a postseason place.
AM Racing’s Road Course Record and Track Experience
This weekend will serve as the third Xfinity attempt for AM Racing at Portland International Raceway. Last year, the team achieved a best finish of 12th with Brett Moffitt after starting 19th, contributing to its average start of 28.5 and finish of 22.5 at the Pacific Northwest venue. Across its 16 road course events in the Xfinity Series, AM Racing has secured four top-10s and managed an overall average finish of 23.1, laying a foundation of experience upon which Burton can build in this crucial race.
Burton Reflects on Portland, Playoff Push, and Team Goals
Looking ahead to his maiden outing at Portland, Burton highlighted both the unknowns and excitement of tackling a new road course:
“Our AM Racing team has done a great job preparing, and I’m looking forward to learning quickly and putting the No. 25 AirBox Ford Mustang in a good spot for a strong finish.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Discussing the strategy for success at Portland, Burton emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and avoiding errors with controlled pit stops in play:
“It’s important to stay mistake-free and keep the car in one piece, because every position is going to matter more than usual.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Burton stressed the stakes of maximizing every opportunity as the regular season draws to a close and playoff berths remain in flux:
“Our focus is on running a smart, solid race and making sure we maximize every opportunity in the No. 25 AirBox Ford Mustang.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
He also acknowledged the team’s position on the playoff cutline and the mentality needed across these final events:
“Our focus is on keeping that momentum going, continuing to do the little things right and putting ourselves in the best position to not just stay above the cutline, but hopefully extend that margin even more.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Reflecting on the recent Daytona appearance and the unexpected hurdles faced, Burton praised his crew’s resilience:
“It wasn’t the top-10 we were aiming for, but given everything we went through, I’m proud of the effort and glad we were able to salvage a decent result for our No. 25 DEX Imaging Ford Mustang.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Turning to season objectives and the goals for the remainder of the year, Burton expressed optimism for what lies ahead:
“We’ve got a great group of people and partners who continue to believe in what we’re building. Nothing would mean more to me than delivering AM Racing its first Xfinity Series win, locking into the Playoffs, and making a serious run at the championship.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Final Details and What to Watch in Portland
The Pacific Office Automation 147, set for Saturday afternoon, features 75 laps covering 147.75 miles as the 25th race of the Xfinity Series schedule. Practice will be held on August 30 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. local time, with qualifying slated to start at 1:05 p.m. The field is set to take the green flag just after 4:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. ET), with live coverage available via The CW Network, Motor Racing Network radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.
With only two races remaining in the regular season and playoff positions on the line, Harrison Burton and AM Racing are determined to seize the moment in Portland. A strong performance would give the team a crucial edge heading to World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway and could well secure their place in the postseason, capping a season marked by growth, late-race comebacks, and relentless pursuit of success. The coming weekend promises drama at every turn as the playoff push reaches its peak.
