Harrison Burton Bio
Harrison Brian Burton, born on October 9, 2000, in Huntersville, North Carolina, 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 has carved out his own identity in stock car racing through steady development across NASCAR’s national ladder. He made history in 2020 as the first driver born in the 2000s or later to win a NASCAR Xfinity Series race, and in 2024 added a NASCAR Cup Series victory to his resume.
Across his career, Burton has built a reputation as a versatile short-track racer capable of winning at every level he has entered. His progression from go-karts to late models to the Cup Series reflects years of disciplined family-backed racing and gradual promotion through top teams.
Early Life and Background
Burton was raised in Huntersville, North Carolina, in a family deeply connected to stock car racing. His father, Jeff Burton, was a successful NASCAR driver, and his uncle Ward Burton also raced at the national level. His cousin Jeb Burton is also involved in racing, giving Harrison a strong family lineage to draw inspiration from.
He began his racing journey at age two with a go-kart and moved into a quarter midget at age four. By age twelve, he was competing in pro late models, and at Ace Speedway he earned his first late model pole at eleven. He won his first late model race in early 2014 and his first super late model event at New Smyrna Speedway in early 2015. He also captured three USAC quarter midget championships during his formative years.
Burton attended the Cannon School, where he balanced academics with a demanding racing schedule. After graduating in 2019, he chose to focus full-time on motorsports, marking the transition from promising junior racer to professional prospect.
Path to NASCAR
Burton’s route through the NASCAR developmental ladder began in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, where he signed with HScott Motorsports in 2016 and became the youngest driver to start a race in the series. He finished eighth in championship points that season before moving to MDM Motorsports the following year.
In 2017, Burton won five of fourteen races in the K&N Pro Series East and captured the series championship, defeating Todd Gilliland by overcoming an eight-point deficit in the finale. He also ran selected Camping World Truck Series events for Kyle Busch Motorsports during this period. By 2018, his development work in late models and regional series had positioned him for a national-level opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Harrison Burton Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Burton made his national NASCAR debut in 2016 at Martinsville Speedway in the Camping World Truck Series with Kyle Busch Motorsports, where he and Kyle Donahue became the first drivers born in the 2000s to compete in any NASCAR national series. He returned for a partial Truck Series schedule in 2017, scoring a fourth-place finish at Martinsville in the fall.
In 2018, he continued with KBM in the Truck Series and posted strong runs including a third-place finish and his first stage win in NASCAR competition at ISM Raceway. Across his time in the Truck Series, Burton displayed the speed and composure expected of a young driver being groomed for a top NASCAR team.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2019–2020)
Joe Gibbs Racing brought Burton into the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2019, first with a part-time No. 18 Toyota Supra entry before promoting him to the No. 20 for the full 2020 season. The promotion followed Christopher Bell’s move to the Cup Series.
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 series and the second driver to ever win on Leap Day, joining his uncle Ward Burton, who won at Rockingham Speedway in 1992. He qualified for the Xfinity Series playoffs after scoring two wins in the regular season but was eliminated after the first round. Later wins came at Texas Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway, capping a strong sophomore campaign that also earned him NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year honors for 2020.
NASCAR Cup Series (2021–2024)
Burton made his Cup Series debut in 2021 with Gaunt Brothers Racing at Talladega Superspeedway, becoming the first driver born in the 2000s to start a Cup Series race. Later that year, Wood Brothers Racing announced he would replace Matt DiBenedetto in the iconic No. 21 Ford Mustang for the 2022 season.
His full-time Cup debut came at the 2022 Daytona 500, where he led three laps before a multi-car accident on lap 63 ended his day in 39th. He later captured his first top-ten finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway and added a third-place run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 2023 season was challenging, with only two top-ten results and a 31st-place finish in the final standings. In 2024, Burton broke through with a first career Cup Series victory at the Daytona summer race, beating Kyle Busch by 0.047 seconds with his father Jeff in the broadcast booth. The win was also the 100th Cup Series victory for Wood Brothers Racing and secured him a spot in the Cup Series playoffs, though he was eliminated in the Round of 16 and finished sixteenth in points.
Sam Hunt Racing Era (2025–Present)
Following the 2024 Cup Series season, Burton transitioned back to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with Sam Hunt Racing, taking the wheel of the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra beginning in 2026. The move marked a return to familiar Toyota equipment and a chance to rebuild momentum at a competitive Xfinity-level team.
Earlier in 2025, Burton had run a part-time NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule with AM Racing, posting nine top-ten finishes and helping the team reach the playoffs for the first time. He was eliminated in the Round of 12 before the team announced they would part ways at season’s end. His selection by Sam Hunt Racing for a full-time ride signals continued confidence in his development and race craft.
Driving Style and Strengths
Burton is widely recognized for his short-track and superspeedway comfort, areas sharpened through years of late model and regional series competition. He demonstrates patience in traffic and is known for executing well-timed late-race passes, a skill that helped him secure Cup Series and Xfinity Series wins. His clean, consistent approach has made him a respected presence in garage areas across NASCAR.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Burton’s signature moments are his 2020 Xfinity Series win at Auto Club Speedway and his 2024 Cup Series victory at Daytona, where he joined his father Jeff and uncle Ward as Cup and Xfinity race winners. He also owns a memorable Truck Series stage win at ISM Raceway and a dominant 2017 K&N Pro Series East championship run.
Harrison Burton Career Wins
Burton has accumulated race wins across multiple NASCAR national and regional series, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Cup Series, and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. His victories span short tracks, intermediate ovals, and superspeedways, demonstrating his adaptability as a driver.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Highlights
Burton captured multiple NASCAR Xfinity Series wins during his time with Joe Gibbs Racing, beginning with his historic 2020 victory at Auto Club Speedway. He added wins at Texas Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway that same year, establishing himself as a rising star in the series. His 2020 campaign earned him NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year honors.
NASCAR Cup Series Highlights
In 2024, Burton scored his first career NASCAR Cup Series win at the Daytona summer race, edging Kyle Busch at the line by 0.047 seconds. The victory was the 100th Cup Series win for Wood Brothers Racing and made him the first driver born in the 2000s to win at the Cup level. The win secured his first Cup Series playoff berth.
Other Wins and Performances
Burton won the 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship with five victories and also earned wins in the ARCA Menards Series at Toledo Speedway and Pocono Raceway. In 2023, he added an IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge win at Daytona with co-driver Zane Smith, highlighting his versatility across racing disciplines.
Harrison Burton Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Harrison comes from one of NASCAR’s most recognizable racing families. His father, Jeff Burton, is a former NASCAR driver and current NASCAR on NBC analyst. His uncle, Ward Burton, is a former NASCAR Cup Series race winner, and his cousin Jeb Burton is also an active racing driver. This deep family heritage has shaped Harrison’s path through motorsports and provided mentorship at every stage of his career.
Personal Life
Burton is married to Jenna Petty. He continues to be involved with the Celebratory Cause, a charitable organization he has supported throughout his professional career. Despite the demands of full-time racing, Burton has remained close to his family and frequently acknowledges their influence on his success.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a year of transition for Burton, who returned to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series after his Cup Series tenure with Wood Brothers Racing. He joined AM Racing for the year and immediately delivered consistency, recording nine top-ten finishes during the regular season and guiding the team to its first-ever playoff appearance. He was eliminated from playoff contention in the Round of 12.
Following the decision to part ways with AM Racing at season’s end, Burton signed with Sam Hunt Racing for a full-time 2026 campaign in the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra. Earlier in the season, he also made a one-off Cup Series appearance in the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway with Rick Ware Racing, finishing twentieth in the exhibition event after qualifying through his 2024 Daytona victory.
Looking ahead, Burton’s move to Sam Hunt Racing signals a fresh start in familiar Toyota equipment, pairing his short-track instincts with a competitive Xfinity Series operation. His mix of playoff experience, family knowledge, and proven winning pedigree positions him as a driver to watch as he prepares for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season.
