Sam Hunt Racing has announced that Harrison Burton joins Sam Hunt’s NASCAR team for the 2026 season, with Dean Thompson set to return as well. The news was revealed Saturday by team owner Sam Hunt at Martinsville Speedway, aligning with a year that will also see the Xfinity Series rebranded as the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Thompson’s Return and Burton’s Next Move
Dean Thompson is currently finishing his initial full-time run in the Xfinity Series with Sam Hunt Racing and will continue with the organization next year. Harrison Burton, who is currently competing for AM Racing, will join the team at the conclusion of this season. This move signifies Burton’s return to racing under the Toyota banner, a brand with which he has prior experience.
Personal Connections and Team Chemistry
Harrison Burton described the new opportunity as a homecoming to familiar faces at Toyota.
I’m super, super excited, couldn’t be more excited to join this group. For me, it kind of what feels like going back home to our friends at Toyota.
—Harrison Burton, Driver.
Both Dean Thompson and Sam Hunt expressed enthusiasm regarding the next season. Hunt reflected on Thompson’s progress and the cohesion within the team.
There was some risk at bringing in Dean last year,
—Sam Hunt, Team Owner. He added that seeing Thompson grow throughout his debut full-time season contributed to the team’s overall success, stating,
“Dean was not at his most confident point in his driving career and for me, my fulfillment this year has been watching Dean grow as a person. He’s grown to have this humility and this desire to be embedded into the program and I think that has correlated completely to his on-track performance being as strong as it has been.”
Hunt also highlighted Thompson’s efforts in the playoffs, saying,
I feel like for Dean, being a first-year Xfinity guy with a group like ours and making a legitimate run at the tail end of the playoffs this year was a really positive thing.
Building for Growth and Future Competition
Team owner Sam Hunt expressed his excitement about welcoming Burton, noting their prior connection and Burton’s qualities both on and off the track.
I’ve known Harrison for years now at a bit of a distance, but I’ve always admired his persona and how he treats people and how he acts, along with how hard he works and, obviously, being a pretty accomplished race car driver,
—Sam Hunt, Team Owner.
Currently, before Saturday’s Xfinity race at Martinsville, Burton was 12th in the season points standings, while Thompson sat at 16th. Sam Hunt Racing has operated one full-time team this season and a secondary team on a part-time basis. The plan for 2026 includes expanding to two full-time entries, enabling both returning and new drivers to compete for top results throughout the season.
Anticipated Impact for Sam Hunt Racing
The addition of Harrison Burton and the return of Dean Thompson reflect Sam Hunt Racing’s goal of strengthening its on-track presence as it enters a period of expansion and transition. Positioning two talented drivers in the team’s garages, especially with the debut of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series name, the organization aims to compete more consistently and potentially vie for playoff spots in the coming season.
