Against all odds, Harrison Burton emerged victorious from a chaotic Daytona International Speedway race, securing a spot in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and marking a historic milestone for Wood Brothers Racing.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Harrison Burton's career trajectory took an unexpected turn on Saturday night as he captured an improbable victory at Daytona International Speedway. With just 12 races presumedly left in his NASCAR Cup Series career, Burton defied the odds and surged into the 2024 playoffs.
Despite knowing for months that he would not return to the Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 car beyond this year, Burton remained undeterred. He skillfully navigated the chaos that ensued, avoiding the major wrecks that eliminated several contenders. With a crucial push from Parker Retzlaff at the opportune moment, Burton held off a determined Kyle Busch on the final lap to secure the checkered flag.
Harrison Burton's Epic Upset at Daytona Secures Playoff Spot
Burton's triumph marks a significant milestone for himself and for Wood Brothers Racing, which celebrated its 100th NASCAR victory. The emotional weight of the occasion was evident on Burton's face as he shed tears during the cool-down lap.
"It's just been the hardest three years of my life," Burton admitted. "There's no denying. It's just been rough and these guys have rallied behind me when it matters the most."
Burton's victory sends shockwaves through the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race. Two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch, who finished second to Burton, now finds himself in a must-win situation at the regular-season finale at Darlington Raceway next Sunday. Christopher Bell, Cody Ware, and Ty Gibbs rounded out the top five finishers.
For Burton, the significance of his victory transcends the mere accomplishment of winning. It serves as a testament to his resilience and determination in the face of adversity. With only one top-5 and five top-10s in his first 97 Cup races, Burton has proven that his skill and unwavering spirit can overcome long odds.
"I've been really fortunate and won a lot of races when I was younger," Burton said. "You just have to rely on the film you've watched, rely on the situations you've been in."
The son of former Cup driver Jeff Burton, Harrison expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to race in NASCAR's premier series.
"You never know when you have a chance to drive again," Burton said. "I've had a chance to do that for three years, to work with these guys [at the Wood Brothers] for three years. ... When the chips are down, we did a good job."
The race at Daytona International Speedway was not without its share of drama. Two wild accidents in the waning laps sent Josh Berry sliding on his roof for several hundred feet before slamming into a wall. Michael McDowell's car also took flight, turning perpendicular to the ground before landing back on its wheels. Miraculously, both drivers emerged uninjured.
Berry and McDowell attributed the accidents to the unique racing style at Daytona, where NASCAR limits horsepower to prevent cars from becoming airborne without contact. The result is a closely packed field with little margin for error.
"It was going over," McDowell said. "I had my eyes closed, but whoever hit me it felt like it set me back down because I had that moment where it got real light and it got real quiet and then I got hit and then I was back on the ground. ... It's the end of a Daytona race and these things happen."
With Burton securing one of the 16 playoff spots, the race to make the playoffs has intensified. Only three spots remain available (or possibly one if Austin Dillon wins a penalty appeal Monday and there is a new winner at Darlington). Martin Truex Jr., Ty Gibbs, and Chris Buescher currently hold the advantage, with Truex leading the group by 58 points. Bubby Wallace and Ross Chastain are also in contention, trailing Buescher by 21 and 27 points, respectively.
Kyle Busch, along with other drivers without a win, now face a must-win scenario at Darlington if they hope to make the playoffs.
"Once they got in front, with as little energy as there was with the lack of cars that there were, it was hard to make anything happen from Turn 4 to start-finish," Busch said. "Besides just flat-out wrecking him, there was nothing else I could do. ... It's all good. We were really, really, really lucky [to miss wrecks]."
