Harrison Burton Bio
Harrison Brian Burton (born October 9, 2000) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. Burton is the son of former NASCAR driver Jeff Burton and a member of one of the most recognizable families in American motorsports. He gained national attention in 2020 when he became the first driver born in the 2000s to win a NASCAR Xfinity Series race, and he added another historic first in 2024 by winning a NASCAR Cup Series race.
Early Life and Background
Harrison Burton was born on October 9, 2000, in Huntersville, North Carolina. He grew up surrounded by racing, as his father Jeff Burton was a well-known NASCAR Cup Series driver and his uncle Ward Burton was a Cup Series race winner. His cousin Jeb Burton also pursued a career in stock car racing, making the Burton family one of the most prominent racing families in the United States.
Burton’s racing career began at a very young age when he received a go-kart at age two, which was later replaced by a quarter midget at age four. He went on to win three USAC quarter midget championships and recorded his first late model pole at Ace Speedway at the age of eleven. At twelve, he won two races in pro late models, and in early 2014, he earned his first late model victory. His first super late model win followed in early 2015 at New Smyrna Speedway.
Burton attended the Cannon School in Concord, North Carolina, while continuing to develop his racing career. After graduating in 2019, he took a gap semester to focus on racing for the remainder of the year, a decision that allowed him to advance through the NASCAR development ladder more quickly.
Path to NASCAR
Burton’s progression through the NASCAR development system began in 2016 when he became the youngest driver ever to start a race in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, driving for HScott Motorsports. In his first season, he earned one pole, multiple top-five finishes, and ended the year eighth in championship points. In 2017, Burton moved to MDM Motorsports and dominated the K&N Pro Series East, winning five of fourteen races, including a rain-shortened event at Bristol, and capturing the series championship by overcoming an eight-point deficit against Todd Gilliland in the final race.
Burton also gained valuable experience in the ARCA Menards Series, where he won at Toledo Speedway in 2017 and at Pocono Raceway in 2018. In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, he made history in 2016 as one of the first drivers born in the 2000s to compete in a NASCAR national series event. After running a partial Truck Series schedule with Kyle Busch Motorsports from 2016 to 2018, he advanced to a full-time ride in 2019, replacing Noah Gragson in the No. 18 Toyota Tundra.
Harrison Burton Career
Early Career (2016-2019)
Burton’s earliest national series appearances came in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with Kyle Busch Motorsports. In 2016, he debuted at Martinsville Speedway and finished twenty-second, becoming one of the first drivers born in the 2000s to compete in a NASCAR national series. The following seasons saw him run partial schedules in both the Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series, building experience on a wide range of track types.
His K&N Pro Series East championship in 2017 marked his first major national title. He also won a Truck Series pole at the M&M’s 200 in 2018 and scored his first stage win in NASCAR national series competition at ISM Raceway later that year. These results positioned him for a full-time Truck Series ride in 2019 and attracted attention from top NASCAR teams looking for young talent.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2019-2021)
Burton moved to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2019, initially running eight races for Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 18 Toyota Supra. His strong performances led JGR to name him the full-time driver of the No. 20 Supra for the 2020 season. On February 29, 2020, Burton earned his first career Xfinity Series win at Auto Club Speedway, holding off teammate Riley Herbst. The victory made him the first driver born in the 2000s to win in the Xfinity Series, and he joined his father Jeff and uncle Ward as Cup and Xfinity winners.
Burton added two more wins later that season at Texas Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway, qualifying for the Xfinity Series playoffs before being eliminated in the first round. In 2021, he captured the NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year award, capping a successful development phase in the series.
NASCAR Cup Series Era (2021-2024)
Burton made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in April 2021 with Gaunt Brothers Racing at Talladega Superspeedway, becoming the first driver born in the 2000s to compete in a Cup Series event. Later that year, Wood Brothers Racing announced that Burton would drive the team’s No. 21 Ford Mustang full-time starting in 2022, replacing Matt DiBenedetto. His first full Cup Series season included a tenth-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway and a third-place result at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, both career bests at the time.
The 2023 season proved more difficult, as Burton finished thirty-first in the final Cup Series standings with only two top-ten results. However, his career reached a milestone in 2024 at the Daytona summer race, where he beat Kyle Busch by 0.047 seconds to claim his first career Cup Series victory. The win was also the 100th Cup Series victory for the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team and earned Burton a spot in the playoffs, though he was eliminated in the Round of 16. Despite the playoff run, he finished sixteenth in points with a 25.7 average finish.
Sam Hunt Racing Era (2025-Present)
Following his departure from Wood Brothers Racing, Burton returned to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025 with AM Racing, driving the No. 25 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. He delivered nine top-ten finishes and helped the team reach the Xfinity Series playoffs for the first time. He was eliminated in the Round of 12, and it was later announced that Burton and AM Racing would part ways after the season.
On October 25, 2025, Sam Hunt Racing announced that Burton would join the organization full-time in 2026, driving the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra. The move marks a new chapter in his career, returning to Toyota and joining a competitive Xfinity Series operation with growing ambitions.
Driving Style and Strengths
Burton is known for his smooth and patient driving style, especially on superspeedways and short tracks. His ability to manage tire wear and execute late-race passes has been a defining trait throughout his career. His partnership with his crew chiefs has emphasized consistent communication and clean race craft, qualities that have helped him deliver strong results in both the Truck Series and the Xfinity Series.
Notable Races and Milestones
Burton’s most significant win came in the 2024 Daytona summer Cup Series race, where he edged Kyle Busch in a dramatic finish. His 2020 victory at Auto Club Speedway made him the first driver born in the 2000s to win in the Xfinity Series, and his 2017 K&N Pro Series East championship remains one of the most decisive title runs of his career. He has also been a consistent performer at superspeedways, including wins at Pocono and Daytona in the ARCA Menards Series.
Harrison Burton Career Wins
Harrison Burton has recorded victories across multiple NASCAR national series, including the Camping World Truck Series, the Xfinity Series, and the Cup Series. He is the only driver born in the 2000s to have won in both the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series, and he remains the youngest winner in the K&N Pro Series East era.
NASCAR Cup Series Highlights
Burton’s lone Cup Series victory came in the 2024 Daytona summer race, where he beat Kyle Busch in a thrilling 0.047-second margin. The win was historic for both Burton and Wood Brothers Racing, marking the team’s 100th Cup Series victory and first win since 2017. It also secured Burton’s first Cup Series playoff appearance.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Highlights
Burton has three career Xfinity Series wins, the first coming at Auto Club Speedway in 2020, followed by victories at Texas Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway later that same season. His 2020 campaign also earned him the 2021 Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year honors due to the points structure of the award.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond NASCAR’s national series, Burton captured the 2017 K&N Pro Series East championship, winning five of fourteen races. In the ARCA Menards Series, he earned wins at Toledo Speedway in 2017, Pocono Raceway in 2018, and Daytona International Speedway in 2019. Burton also won the 2023 Daytona 4-hour IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race alongside co-driver Zane Smith.
Harrison Burton Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Burton comes from one of the most recognized racing families in NASCAR. His father, Jeff Burton, is a former NASCAR Cup Series race winner and current NASCAR on NBC analyst. His uncle, Ward Burton, is a former Cup Series race winner, and his cousin, Jeb Burton, is also a NASCAR national series driver. The family’s deep ties to the sport have shaped Harrison’s career path and provided him with invaluable mentorship from an early age.
Personal Life
Burton is married to Jenna Petty. He attended the Cannon School in Concord, North Carolina, and is involved with the Celebratory Cause charity initiative. Standing 180 centimeters tall and weighing approximately 82 kilograms, Burton continues to live and work primarily in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, near the heart of NASCAR country.
2025 Season Performance
Harrison Burton’s 2025 season began with his return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time, driving the No. 25 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for AM Racing. He also made a one-off Cup Series appearance in the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, where he finished twentieth. His invitation to the All-Star Race was earned through his 2024 Daytona win, a perk that allowed him to compete in the exhibition event.
Throughout the regular Xfinity Series season, Burton delivered consistent results, posting nine top-ten finishes and helping AM Racing secure its first playoff berth. Although he was eliminated in the Round of 12, his performance exceeded expectations for both him and the team. The strong year ultimately led to a decision for both sides to pursue different paths for 2026.
In October 2025, Sam Hunt Racing announced that Burton would drive the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra full-time beginning in 2026, signaling a return to Toyota. The move positions Burton within a rising Xfinity Series organization and offers a fresh start as he looks to build on his 2025 momentum. Heading into 2026, Burton is expected to be a contender for race wins and a potential playoff return in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.