Harrison Burton secured his place in the Xfinity Series playoffs following a high-drama 160-lap race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, overcoming difficulties and intense competition from fellow hopefuls. The outcome, pivotal for several drivers, makes the Harrison Burton Xfinity Series playoff berth a defining moment ahead of the postseason’s next stage at Bristol Motor Speedway.
A Challenging Night for Sawalich and Eckes Ends in Disappointment
William Sawalich and Christian Eckes finished second and third respectively, equaling their best-ever results in the Xfinity Series, yet found themselves just shy of the post-race celebrations as both missed clinching a playoff berth. The emotional atmosphere was evident as they stood by their vehicles after a tough race, their expressions reflecting the high stakes that defined their night in Madison.
Sawalich expressed his approach to the competition, saying,
“Definitely did everything I could to race cleanly.”
—William Sawalich, Driver. He added further,
“That’s kind of always my goal. I mean, we gave our best effort as a team.”
—William Sawalich, Driver. Despite these efforts, Sawalich’s second-place finish left him one spot short.
Eckes was just behind in third, but the outcome was not enough.
“We knew we had to come here and win, and we didn’t achieve that, so it is what it is. We’ll move on.”
—Christian Eckes, Driver. Both drivers went into the race knowing that a win was essential for their playoff ambitions, but after 160 laps, they fell just short on a night that demanded perfection.
Connor Zilisch Dominates at World Wide Technology Raceway
Connor Zilisch claimed the race victory, marking his ninth win of the Xfinity Series season. This formidable performance rendered the playoff scenario straightforward for Burton, as Zilisch’s win prevented another new playoff-eligible contender from disrupting the points standings at the last minute. Zilisch’s dominance at Gateway meant that, for much of the race, the playoff line hovered over Burton’s own prospects.
Jeb Burton’s Crash Shifts the Playoff Picture
Before taking the green flag, Harrison Burton was feeling the pressure—not just from drivers like Sawalich and Eckes, but from within his own family. Jeb Burton, his cousin, was the nearest challenger below the cutline, driving the No. 27 Jordan Anderson Racing car. For most of the contest, both Burtons raced close together in the mid-pack. The playoff storyline shifted dramatically when, shortly past the halfway point on lap 111, an incident took out Jeb Burton, ending his hopes.
“We blew a right front tire, so, hard hit,”
said Jeb Burton outside the care center.
“We’re the only car up there that doesn’t have a technical alliance with a [NASCAR Cup Series] team, and we’re 13th in points, right? We’re the first car without the stuff, and everybody ahead of us has it, and everybody behind us in the first couple spots has it too, so you got a lot to be proud of.”
—Jeb Burton, Driver. This removed the family rivalry from the playoff equation and brought relief to Harrison Burton, who now only had to guard against another surprise winner.
Battles Intensify as Playoff Hopes Fade for Challengers
As the laps wound down, the possibility of a must-win driver seizing the moment kept the tension high. In the final 12 laps, Sawalich and Eckes mounted one last challenge, with Sawalich surging to second and Eckes moving from sixth to third after the restart. Despite these valiant charges, the two could not overtake Zilisch for the win. Both drivers reflected post-race on their efforts and the near-miss.
“Just to tell myself to keep going, you know, but we’re still not done,”
said 18-year-old Sawalich.
“I mean, we have room to improve, obviously, one more spot, so we’re not going to stop until we do that.”
—William Sawalich, Driver. Eckes, who faced a challenging season with multiple DNFs, summed up his feelings:
“I felt like we had a race-winning car…With a restart, who knows what could happen, but disappointing not to get this team in the playoffs. They deserve to be in the playoffs, but just about seven too many DNFs and a lot of problems.”
—Christian Eckes, Driver.
Harrison Burton and AM Racing Secure Playoff Berth
For Harrison Burton, the night was a survival test as much as a race, but ultimately it was enough to secure a playoff spot. Having last raced full-time in Xfinity in 2021, Burton now returns to the playoffs, this time representing the underdog AM Racing team, which celebrates its first-ever postseason appearance.
Burton acknowledged both the struggles and determination it took for him and the team to reach this point.
“It’s all about execution now and we got our mulligan tonight,”
he said.
“We got lucky tonight, and we can go and try and haul the mail in the playoffs. … So, we’ll just take it one race at a time and go try and enjoy this playoff run.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver. Reflecting on the team’s journey, he said,
“I knew that the team had struggled in the past,”
the former Cup driver said.
“I’m coming off of getting fired. I knew that we were both hungry…I felt like there were some races that we’ve thrown away…There’s some races that we’ve kind of scavenged and ran better than maybe we should have.”
“I’m happy, really proud of this team to go from, I don’t know where they were, 31st or something in points to the playoffs, is a big accomplishment, and kudos to the guys at the race shop.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver. Burton now looks ahead, eager to turn this hard-won playoff bid into a championship pursuit.
The Road Ahead: Bristol Awaits Playoff Contenders
With the regular season now in the rearview mirror, all eyes turn to Bristol Motor Speedway next weekend, where drivers like Sawalich, Eckes, and Burton will chase their first wins of 2025. The playoff field is set, and each competitor—seasoned or rookie—will face a new set of challenges under Bristol’s bright lights. For AM Racing and Harrison Burton, their underdog journey continues, hoping to make the most of their hard-earned playoff push. As the Xfinity postseason begins, storylines around drivers’ redemption, intense rivalries, and ambitions for victory promise another emotional and complex chapter in a fiercely fought season.
