Harrison Burton returns to Bristol Motor Speedway this Friday with the No. 25 AM Racing team, determined to rebound during the Xfinity Series Playoffs after a challenging finish in the regular season. This Harrison Burton Xfinity Bristol Race Preview explores how Burton, seeded 11th in the Playoff standings, plans to secure his place in the next round and build momentum for AM Racing’s first championship bid.
Burton Set for Full Xfinity Season with AM Racing
AM Racing, marking its third year competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, will campaign the full 33-race 2025 schedule with Harrison Burton behind the wheel. Burton, a 24-year-old native of Huntersville, North Carolina, continues his relationship with Ford while driving the No. 25 Ford Mustang. After three seasons in the Cup Series with the storied Wood Brothers Racing operation and 108 Cup starts, Burton is set for a full-time return to Xfinity, aiming to harness the experience gained across NASCAR’s premier divisions.
Burton’s move to AM Racing was announced in September 2024, with his debut earmarked for the Daytona season opener on February 15, 2025. Crew Chief Danny Efland and spotter Kevin Hamlin form the leadership core, both bringing expertise to maximize Burton’s strengths on the challenging Xfinity circuit.
Enduring Partnership with AirBox for Bristol
AirBox, recognized as an industry leader in commercial indoor air quality solutions since 2017, will serve as AM Racing’s primary sponsor at Bristol for the fifth time this season. Specializing in ASHRAE’s IAQP standards, the company’s high-volume air purifiers feature a blend of Certified HEPA and Molecular Adsorbent technologies, designed and manufactured in North Carolina for energy-efficient, healthy environments. Their branding has previously appeared at diverse venues, including Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Sonoma Raceway, Watkins Glen International, and Portland International Raceway, underscoring the depth of support for Burton’s campaign.
Playoff Breakthrough for AM Racing and Burton
Burton and AM Racing clinched the final spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs with a resilient run at World Wide Technology Raceway. Holding off challenges from his cousin Jeb Burton, William Sawalich, and Christian Eckes, Burton locked in the 12th Playoff spot, advancing the family-owned Statesville, N.C.-based outfit to title contention in only its third full season.
Entering the Round of 12 opener at Bristol—familiarly called “Thunder Valley”—Burton sits 11th, just three points shy of the eighth-place cutline. The opening Playoff round takes teams from Bristol to Kansas Speedway and then to the Charlotte ROVAL, where only the top eight will progress to the next stage. Regardless of Playoff results, this campaign ensures AM Racing its best-ever Xfinity championship finish inside the top 12.
Bristol Track History and Redemption Quest
Friday’s Food City 300 signifies Burton’s sixth Xfinity Series start at Bristol’s iconic half-mile oval, renowned as “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile.” In his five prior attempts, he’s logged two top-five and four top-10 finishes, twice earning a best result of fourth place (most recently in the 2020 fall event with Joe Gibbs Racing). His average Xfinity finish at Bristol stands at 10.2, highlighting his competitiveness at the venue. This spring, however, a flat tire in the opening laps forced an early pit strategy for the AM Racing team, resulting in a disappointing 26th-place effort—a setback fueling Burton’s drive for redemption this time around.
Besides his Xfinity stats, Burton has four Cup Series starts at Bristol, claiming a best finish of 16th, and two Truck Series starts at the short track, cementing his versatility across NASCAR’s national series.
Busy Weekend on Multiple Fronts
While Burton will not contest the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race this weekend, he shifts focus to his short-track roots by racing in the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car event at South Boston Speedway. Piloting the No. 51 Ford with Rick Ware Racing, Burton returns to a series where he secured victory in the 2017 season opener and continues to test himself against the nation’s top Late Model competitors. His CARS Tour outing marks a significant complement to his NASCAR schedule, allowing him to refine his racecraft ahead of the Playoff push.
This season, Burton reunited with Rick Ware Racing in the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, qualifying via his landmark Cup win at Daytona. That Daytona victory also gave Wood Brothers Racing their 100th win, adding to Burton’s credentials heading into Bristol.
Career Achievements in Xfinity and Beyond
With 101 career Xfinity starts, Burton’s record includes four wins—all secured during the 2020 season—28 top-five and 58 top-10 finishes, and two eighth-place championship results (2020, 2021). His race wins span Auto Club Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Martinsville Speedway. As the son of NASCAR veteran Jeff Burton, he upholds the family’s racing legacy while maintaining an average finish of 12.5 over four Xfinity seasons. Beyond Xfinity, Burton boasts 109 Cup Series and 40 Truck Series starts, plus 52 ARCA Menards Series events, underscoring his breadth of experience.
Playoff-Clenching Performance at Gateway
The regular-season finale at World Wide Technology Raceway provided drama and pressure for both Burton and his AM Racing crew. After grappling with handling issues during practice, the team rebounded in qualifying, placing their Ford Mustang sixth on the grid. Stage 1 saw Burton manage a top-20 run, but as the race unfolded, rivals—including Jeb Burton—threatened his Playoff ambition. A tire failure sidelined Jeb Burton, while Harrison survived a spin and subsequent caution with only minor damage. Despite restarting on older tires, a measured effort through the pack secured a 22nd-place finish—just enough to cement Xfinity postseason participation.
When Connor Zilisch took the race win, he blocked both William Sawalich and Christian Eckes from their maiden victories, further ensuring the Playoff grid remained unchanged. The Gateway performance, though not headline-grabbing, marked a pivotal accomplishment for both Burton and the AM Racing organization.
Technical Leadership and Bristol Record for AM Racing
Crew Chief Danny Efland, with 30 prior Xfinity races under his belt, returns to Bristol for the second time in a leadership capacity for AM Racing. Efland’s records feature a Daytona pole, three top-five, and ten top-10 finishes, contributing to the team’s evolving profile.
This Food City 300 marks AM Racing’s fourth Xfinity appearance at Bristol Motor Speedway. Their best result—a charge from 36th to 16th by Brett Moffitt in 2023—remains a benchmark for the Statesville-based team. Collectively, their average finish at the half-mile track is 23.0, while performances on other sub-one-mile circuits have yielded a top-five and two top-10s with a mean result of 20.3, indicating room for improvement as Burton looks to elevate the team’s Playoff run.
Burton’s Thoughts Ahead of Bristol Challenge
Looking toward Bristol, Burton is candid about the importance of a strong showing, focusing on overcoming past setbacks and leveraging the opportunity for redemption in the Playoffs. He stresses the difficulty and excitement of the Bristol night race, emphasizing both the need for patience and adaptability on the demanding short track.
“Under the lights, with everything on the line in the Playoffs, I feel like we have a chance to bounce back and really show the strength of this No. 25 AM Racing team.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Discussing strategy and the tight confines of Bristol, Burton acknowledges the crucial elements required for success and the importance of executing clean laps from qualifying through race’s end.
“If we can qualify up front, keep ourselves in clean air, and make good adjustments throughout the night, I think we’ll have a chance to be in the mix when it counts.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
He recognizes the unpredictable nature of Bristol and the need to maximize every stage and finish, particularly with Playoff advancement on the line.
“If we do that, I believe we can come away with a result that keeps us moving forward in the Round of 12 and builds momentum for the rest of this Playoff run.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Reflecting on the significance of Playoff qualification, Burton credits the collective effort at AM Racing and the backing of Ford and key marketing partners, noting the steady progress made in just three seasons.
“Now the goal is to keep building on this and show what we’re capable of over these next seven weeks.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Looking Back at World Wide Technology Raceway
On the Gateway performance that clinched the Playoff berth, Burton recalls the challenging circumstances and the resilience shown by his team to overcome adversity and secure the result required. Despite being spun and needing to fight back, the effort, teamwork, and determination proved decisive.
“Now the focus is on resetting and seeing what we can do over these next seven weeks.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Embracing Late Model Racing at South Boston
The weekend’s schedule also sees Burton reconnecting with his roots, taking on the CARS Tour at South Boston Speedway—an environment central to his early development as a racer. He is enthusiastic about measuring his progress and competing once again in Late Models, appreciative of Rick Ware Racing for this seat.
“Coming back now with more experience in NASCAR, it’s exciting to measure myself again in this environment. I’m thankful to Rick Ware Racing for giving me this opportunity and can’t wait to get after it on Saturday night and have some fun.”
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Event Details and Team Gratitude
Friday’s Food City 300 at Bristol is scheduled for 300 laps (159.9 miles) as the 27th of 33 Xfinity season races. Group practice begins at 2:00 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 3:05 p.m. ET. The green flag drops after 7:30 p.m. ET, with coverage on The CW Network, the Performance Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. AM Racing and Burton extend appreciation for support from partners including AIRBOX Air Purifier, Blue Wolf Cleaner & Degreasers, Dead On Tools, DEX Imaging, Eagle Rentals, Flying Circle, Mechanix Wear, Morton Buildings, Racing Radios, Volt Batteries, and WIX Filters, each instrumental in this Playoff campaign.
Significance and Next Steps
Burton’s return to Bristol Motor Speedway in Playoff contention marks a pivotal moment for AM Racing as they seek their first championship breakthrough in the Xfinity Series. The outcome of Friday’s race will not only shape Burton’s postseason trajectory but carry major implications for the team’s stature among emerging Playoff contenders. With capable hands on the pit box, a dedicated sponsor in AirBox, and Burton’s blend of experience and motivation, the team steps out under the lights with heightened intensity, ready to prove their competitive mettle as the Playoff journey begins in earnest.
