NASCAR Silly Season intensifies: Harrison Burton safeguards racing future with AM Racing amid Hailie Deegan's exit

AM Racing has announced Harrison Burton as their driver for the 2025 Xfinity Series season. The North Carolina-based racer is expected to pilot the #15 Ford for the team next year, as reported by senior NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass.

Despite an underwhelming 2024 Cup Series season with Wood Brothers Racing, Burton surprised everyone by grabbing the Playoffs Berth by winning the Coke Zero Sugar 400 race at Daytona International Speedway. Aside from that win, he has only recorded two Top 10s and one Top 5 finish throughout the regular season. This marks the first playoff appearance for the #21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse driver in four Cup Series seasons.

Burton is set to release Hailie Deegan (who mutually parted ways with AM Racing mid-season) in the Xfinity Series next year. The decision was announced by AM Racing in an official press release. Burton expressed his excitement about joining the team as a full-time driver for the upcoming season.

“I’m excited to join AM Racing and help build it into the race-winning race team I believe it can and will be. I think this will be a great opportunity for me to take the things I’ve learned in the Cup Series, bring those to the Xfinity Series and be the best driver I can be," he said.

The aforementioned news was also shared by senior journalist Pockrass on his X page. Here's a look at the post, captioned,

Harrison Burton to drive the AM Racing No. 15 Xfinity car next season.

While some fans have expressed concerns about the move from Cup to Xfinity Series being a step down, Burton believes it is a privilege to continue his racing career in one of the sport’s top national series.

"It’s a blessing to continue my NASCAR journey, and I intend to make the most of this opportunity,” the 24-year-old racer added.

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Harrison Burton's journey in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, from being 34th on the driver's table to grabbing the Playoffs berth

Harrison Burton, the son of former NASCAR racer Jeff Burton, endured a difficult 2024 Cup Series season. However, a surprise victory at Daytona pushed the North Carolina-based driver into the Top 16 list.

Burton consistently ended outside of the Top 10s in the first five races of the season (barring the fifth-place finish in Duel 2 at DAYTONA). He was ranked 34th in the driver standings at the end of the regular season. Despite the challenges, Burton capitalized on the opportunity presented at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in Daytona.

With strategic calls throughout the race, the 24-year-old driver secured a podium finish on the penultimate lap, surpassing two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch. This victory earned him his first-ever Cup Series Playoffs berth.

Apart from the win at Daytona, where he scored 40 points, highlights of Burton's regular season were the races at Talladega (32 points), Atlanta (29 points), New Hampshire (23 points), and Michigan (23 points).

As of now, the #21 driver is placed 16th in the championship, 60 points behind the current leader, Christopher Bell.