Harrison Burton and AM Racing are gearing up for a pivotal night as the No. 25 Dead On Tools Ford Mustang returns to Martinsville Speedway, aiming to secure a major performance breakthrough in the penultimate race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season. The Harrison Burton AM Racing Martinsville effort will spotlight a seasoned driver’s quest for renewed success on a famed short track, underlining the team’s ambition and determination for the 2025 campaign.
Burton Leads AM Racing into Junior Year Xfinity Campaign
AM Racing kicks off its third year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Harrison Burton driving full-time for the entire 33-race schedule starting in 2025. The organization welcomed Burton, a Huntersville, N.C. native and former NASCAR Cup Series winner, as its pilot following his run with Wood Brothers Racing. Burton brings to the Statesville, N.C.-based team a wealth of experience, having competed in the Cup Series for three consecutive years and remaining allied with the Ford camp.
The 2025 Xfinity Series launch will see Burton debut for AM Racing at Daytona International Speedway next February. The partnership with Dead On Tools as the primary sponsor for the closing races of this season further strengthens team resources as they look ahead to a full campaign together.
Key Team Members and Technical Backbone
Crew chief Danny Efland guides the AM Racing effort, bringing his expertise to his second outing at Martinsville in a leadership role. Efland’s resume includes one pole, three top-five finishes, and 11 top-10 results over 35 Xfinity Series races as a crew chief. Long-time spotter Kevin Hamlin is also part of the team’s effort. The No. 25 AMR Chassis No. 077, powered by Roush-Yates Engines, will be the car of choice for the event.
The Dead On Tools Partnership
January 2025 marked the beginning of a new alliance for AM Racing, as Dead On Tools came aboard to sponsor the No. 25 Mustang for the final two Xfinity races of the year. Known for setting industry standards in tools and work gear, Dead On Tools operates out of the Midwest and supplies its products across North America. Their involvement extends the team’s support network, reflecting a mutual emphasis on professionalism and high performance.
Burton’s Track Record at Martinsville
This weekend’s IAA and Ritchie Bros. 250 marks Burton’s fifth Xfinity Series appearance at the historic Virginia short track. Over his previous four starts, Burton has posted a win and two top-10s, highlighted by a victory in the 2020 Draft Top 250 while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing after starting 10th. On average, his Xfinity results at Martinsville stand at 13th.
Burton also returned to Xfinity action at Martinsville earlier in the year, qualifying fifth before an incident resulted in a 24th-place finish. Beyond the Xfinity Series, Burton has six Cup Series starts at Martinsville, posting a personal best 11th-place finish in 2022, and seven Craftsman Truck Series starts with three top-10 showings. These stats speak to his familiarity and tenacity at the venue.
AM Racing’s History at Martinsville
As an organization, AM Racing enters its sixth Xfinity Series race at Martinsville. Their best showing came with Brett Moffitt’s ninth-place result during the team’s inaugural track visit, where he qualified 16th. Across five prior starts, the average finish for the team is 18.2 at Martinsville, signaling the challenge but also the room for breakthrough improvement this weekend. Including other short track events, AM Racing has completed 13 starts in the Xfinity Series, earning one top-five and three top-10 finishes, and maintaining a 19.2 average finish at such layouts.
Backstory: Xfinity Series Career and Wins
Coming into the Martinsville round, Burton boasts 106 career Xfinity Series starts, including four victories, 28 top-five, and 59 top-10 performances. His championship-best came in 2020 and 2021, where he finished eighth both years. All four wins in the Xfinity Series occurred in 2020, with checkered flags at Auto Club Speedway (California), Homestead-Miami Speedway (Florida), Texas Motor Speedway, and Martinsville. His overall average finish across his Xfinity tenure sits at 12.8. Complementing his Xfinity numbers, he has participated in 109 Cup Series races, 40 in the Craftsman Truck Series, and 52 ARCA Menards Series events.
Burton also continues the legacy of his father, Jeff Burton, a former NASCAR driver and current television analyst, further boosting his visibility and experience in the sport.
Recap: Recent Performance at Talladega
At Talladega Superspeedway for the United Rentals 250—the Xfinity Series’ last superspeedway race of 2025—Burton and AM Racing aimed to capitalize on their earlier spring success. The team’s setup focused on long-run pace, allowing Burton to leap from a 30th starting position into the top-10 within the opening laps and later into the top five. However, an incident known as “The Big One” hampered the car’s aerodynamics after damage to the rear bumper, despite which Burton managed to lead a lap in Stage 3 and brought the car across the line in 13th place during overtime.
The result underlined the resilience and adaptability of the team, reinforcing their intent to contend for fifth in the driver standings among non-Playoff entrants, as the season heads toward its conclusion at Phoenix Raceway in November.
Outlook for Remainder of the 2025 Season
With over 93 percent of the season completed, AM Racing continues to express gratitude to its partners, including AIRBOX Air Purifier, Blue Wolf Cleaner & Degreasers, DEX Imaging, Eagle Rentals, Flying Circle, Mechanix Wear, Morton Buildings, Racing Radios, Volt Batteries, and WIX Filters. Focus remains on closing the year with strong performances and setting the team up for an impactful 2025 with Harrison Burton at the helm.
Insights from Harrison Burton and the Team
Burton reflects on his relationship with Martinsville Speedway and the progress the team has made throughout the year:
Our AM Racing team has made a lot of gains this year, and I’m excited to see what we can do with our Dead On Tools Ford Mustang under the lights on Saturday night.
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Laying out his strategic mindset for racing at the iconic short track, Burton emphasizes the importance of execution, track position and staying disciplined to contend near the front.
If we can stay focused, make the right adjustments and keep our Dead On Tools Ford Mustang clean, I’m confident we can be in the mix when it counts.
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Looking back on past challenges and future opportunities, Burton remains optimistic for a standout result:
Maybe, just maybe, we can bring home AM Racing’s first win.
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Assessing the goals for the final races, Burton notes the value of growth and momentum as the season concludes:
With the speed and chemistry, we’ve developed with our No. 25 Dead On Tools | DEX Imaging Ford Mustang throughout the season, I know we can finish this season on a high note.
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Speaking about the Talladega race, Burton praised the team’s resilience despite setbacks:
Even with the damage, we still had the speed to run inside the top-10, and coming home 13th after all that isn’t bad as it could have been.
—Harrison Burton, Driver
Race Details for Martinsville Weekend
The IAA and Ritchie Bros. 250, set for 250 laps and covering 131.5 miles, serves as the penultimate event of the Xfinity Series’ 33-race schedule. Group practice is scheduled for Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 1:00 to 1:55 p.m. ET, immediately followed by qualifying at 2:05 p.m. The race itself will go green after 7:30 p.m., broadcast on The CW Network and on radio via the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.
What Comes Next for Burton and AM Racing
Harrison Burton and AM Racing, backed by the technical leadership of crew chief Danny Efland and spotter Kevin Hamlin, are determined to channel their growth throughout the season into a strong showing at Martinsville. With a history of success at the track and a focus on execution, the team aims to close out 2025 with momentum. Whether they crack the winner’s circle or continue to post top finishes, the groundwork is being laid for a promising 2025 run in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where both experience and fresh determination will be vital for continued progress.
