"What a downgrade, feel bad for him" - NASCAR fans express mixed reactions to Harrison Burton’s 2025 AM Racing move

Harrison Burton is set to drive the AM Racing No. 15 Xfinity car in 2025 after three tough years in the Cup Series.

Burton, 23, recently clinched a victory at Daytona International Speedway, qualified for the 2024 playoffs, and secured Wood Brothers Racing their 100th victory. However, prior to this triumph, he was the lowest-ranked driver in the Cup Series, and Wood Brothers Racing had hired Josh Berry for the No. 21 car earlier in the season.

AM Racing announced in the early morning of September 20 that Burton will join their team in their flagship Ford for the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season.

Fans on X expressed mixed reactions to this change. Some were disappointed, referring to it as a "downgrade," while others were more supportive.

"What a downgrade. I feel bad for him," wrote one fan.

"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," commented another.

"Holy mother of downgrades," wrote another fan.

Burton moved from Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Truck Series to Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series in 2019. He then joined Wood Brothers Racing in the Cup Series in 2022.

"What a ride. KBM —> JGR —> Wood Brothers —> AM Racing," wrote one fan.

"He seems like a very nice kid but he wasn’t that good of a late model racer, just had the best equipment money could buy. Good to hear he got a ride though," commented another.

"Glad he’s staying in the Ford camp. let him try and thrive in Xfinity for a couple years, rack up some wins and some solid finishes, then bring him back up," opined another.

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"Excited to help build it into the race-winning team" - Harrison Burton on joining AM Racing

Harrison Burton believes the move to AM Racing presents a valuable opportunity to apply his Cup Series experience and achieve success in the Xfinity Series. He expressed his enthusiasm for joining AM Racing in the team's official release.

“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.

AM Racing has had mixed results of late. They achieved a top-five finish and nine top-tens with Brett Moffitt in 2023. However, this year, the team parted ways with Hailie Deegan, who drove the No. 15 Ford mid-season, and subsequently brought in other Cup Series drivers before selecting Burton.