Harrison Burton, who is determined to make a Cup Series comeback, recently shared his feelings about leaving Wood Brothers Racing and described his continued ambitions during an interview with NASCAR analyst Joseph Srigley, as the playoffs approach. Burton, now part of the Xfinity Series, has been candid about the challenges and hopes tied to his current journey, with his Harrison Burton Cup Series return hopes serving as a focus point for his future goals.
Reflecting on Departure from Wood Brothers Racing
In 2021, Harrison Burton made his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series with Gaunt Brother Racing, driving the #96 toyota/”>Toyota at Talladega Superspeedway. The next year, he moved into a full-time slot with Wood Brothers Racing behind the wheel of the #21 ford/”>Ford. The young driver, now 24, celebrated a career milestone by winning the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway last year. Over 109 Cup Series starts, Burton recorded two top-five and six top-ten finishes, demonstrating promise in top-level stock car racing.
Despite his Daytona victory, Burton’s tenure with Wood Brothers Racing came to a close at the end of the 2024 season. Reflecting on how things ended, Burton voiced his feelings about the experience:
“I’ve been up front with AM since the beginning, and they want this for me too. It is for me to hopefully wonder and get back to the Cup Series. It wasn’t the run I wanted. I have a sour taste in my mouth from that, and I feel like I’m capable.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
He further illustrated the dissonance of leaving on the heels of a major win, emphasizing the difficulty of watching significant races from the sidelines:
“So kind of an awkward taste in my mouth right to leave after winning, and have to watch the Daytona 500 on TV was one of the hardest, probably one of the hardest days of my life. So I’m definitely hungry to get back, but also focused on the now and understanding that I have an amazing opportunity with an amazing group of people in an amazing series.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Transition to Xfinity Series with AM Racing
For 2025, Harrison Burton stepped into the Xfinity Series, aligning with AM Racing to drive the #25 Ford. His resume in the series is notable, with prior stints driving the #18 and #20 Toyotas for Joe Gibbs Racing between 2019 and 2021. This latest chapter allows Burton a chance to recalibrate, as he seeks to convert his hard-fought experience into future Cup Series opportunities.
Burton Earns Place in Xfinity Playoffs Despite Setbacks
The most recent race at Gateway, formally the Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog on September 6, 2025, proved eventful for Burton. With Connor Zilisch claiming the win, Burton still clinched a playoff berth for the season, though his brother Jeb Burton’s campaign was cut short after a collision with the outside wall dashed his playoff hopes.
Starting among the top ten at Gateway, Burton registered a strong P6 time, clocking in at 33.06 seconds and reaching a peak speed of 136.11 mph. However, following an early lead, he slipped back to 15th and was later caught in an accident following contact with Brennan Poole in Turn 2. Despite spinning out, Burton gathered himself and finished the race in 22nd, while Jeb Burton was forced to retire due to significant vehicle damage resulting from his incident.
The official playoff field was confirmed after the Gateway event:
“Harrison Burton gets last playoff spot.”
—NASCAR Reporter
Looking Toward the Future
Currently ranked 11th in the Xfinity Series standings with a tally of 2002 points, Harrison Burton has notched nine top-ten and two top-five results in his 26 starts this season. With the upcoming Food City 300 scheduled for September 12, 2025, at Bristol Motor Speedway, Burton remains focused both on present competition and his long-term objective to return to the Cup Series. As he stated, he is motivated by past disappointments and driven to capitalize on current opportunities, setting the stage for what could be a compelling comeback within NASCAR’s top ranks.
