Harrison Burton won’t be returning to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025. The Wood Brothers Racing driver will head back to the Xfinity Series, taking charge of the No. 15 team at AM Racing. Burton was on a hunt for a new team after WBR announced that Josh Berry would replace him in the #21 Ford for next year.
Although he did script a comeback story this year with a win at Daytona and his entry into the playoffs, this resurgence came a little too late for him, as most of the teams had secured their lineups for the next year. AM Racing has had a torrid outing so far in 2024 and had to part ways with Hailie Deegan in her debut Xfinity run. But, having secured Harrison Burton for next year, they are hoping to turn a new leaf and focus on competing for wins.
“AM Racing is proud to welcome Harrison Burton on board. He is a first-class individual and has already proven that he will immediately impact each team member here at AM in a positive manner. His experiences across NASCAR’s National Series will position him to be a leader and a catalyst in our pursuit of Victory Lane and the goals we ultimately envision for this program.” AM Racing President Wade Moore said this in a press release.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Burton was also thrilled to have found a new opportunity and was eager to make an impact in the Xfinity Series. “I’m excited to join AM Racing and help build it into the race-winning race team I believe it can and will be. It’s a blessing to continue my NASCAR journey, and I intend to make the most of this opportunity.”
Moreover, AM Racing also renewed its agreement with Roush Yates Engines and joined hands with the Haas Factory Team in a technical alliance. It looks like AM Racing has finally put the right pieces of the puzzle together to turn a corner for good next season. But this wasn’t convincing enough for the fans who were worried that Burton could face a similar fate as Hailie Deegan.
NASCAR fans react to Harrison Burton’s move to AM Racing
After Deegan’s shock exit mid-season, the likes of Joey Logano and Lawless Alan have taken command of the #15 Ford car in the Xfinity Series. But apart from the two top 10 results that Logano pulled off, the team didn’t have a big turnaround. Deegan’s departure led many to believe that she wasn’t good enough to drive the car. But it seems like the problems at AM Racing are deeper than that. Reacting to Burton’s move to the team for 2025, a fan wrote, “AM ☠️ Joey logano of all people could not get a strong result out of their Xfinity car.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
It’s not a pretty sight to see a Cup Series driver moving down to the Xfinity Series. On the flip side, drivers like Josh Berry and Corey LaJoie who haven’t won this year have secured their rides at the Cup level. A return to JGR or the new Haas Factory Team would still allow him to grow and return back to Cup level, just like Cole Custer did. But this race fan was skeptical about this comeback run after he signed for AM Racing. “What a downgrade. I feel bad for him.”
Bob Pockrass shared an update that Spire Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing could announce a swap deal between their two drivers. This would see Corey LaJoie stay at the Cup level and Justin Haley replace him in the #7 team. Yeah, LaJoie out of all drivers could still be running in the Cup Series. This wasn’t appreciated by this user on X who pointed out RWR should instead have signed Burton in LaJoie’s place. “I rather put Burton in RWR car & send Lajoie to AM Racing.”
The #15 AM Racing Ford has finished 30th or worse in ten races this season. This should give you an idea about their struggles. Not only Deegan but Logano and Alan also suffered freak crashes and DNFs. This was proof enough for this fan to believe that AM Racing was cursed and was left worried about Burton’s future with the team next year. “Not the cursed 15🙄”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Not everyone on social media was left worried about this decision call by Burton. A fan was quick to highlight his proven track record at the Xfinity level with 4 wins with JGR during his three-year stint. Also, Cole Custer’s revival and his promotion back to Cup level is something that the young driver should be aiming for. “Reminder he won 4 races in 2020, kid can drive at this level. He’s also 23 so give him some time, seems to have worked for custer.”
Before the Daytona win, Harrison Burton probably had no clear plans regarding his NASCAR career. With an Xfinity ride next season, he will have the opportunity to overcome his past mistakes and script a redemption story.
