Editor’s note: This begins the series in which we review each 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs driver in reverse order of championship finish.
Season in review: Harrison Burton, No. 21, Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Crew Chief: Jeremy Bullins, Grant Hutchens
Final 2024 Ranking: 16th
Key stats: One win, one top five, two top 10s, 13 laps led
How 2024 ended: Burton’s third year of full-time racing in NASCAR’s premier series propelled him to new heights while continuing to learn the Cup Series ropes. The 24-year-old Huntersville, North Carolina native not only tallied his first career Cup Series win in his 98th Cup start but additionally raced among 15 other playoff drivers for the chance to hoist the coveted Bill France Cup. Three finishes of 24th or worse in the Round of 16 resulted in the Wood Brothers Racing pilot’s elimination from title contention, but that didn’t prevent the No. 21 Ford from racing with conviction week in and week out, tallying two finishes of 16th or better over the final four races of the season. Although his 25.7 average finish was a step back from prior marks (22.8 in 2022 and 24.7 in 2023), the young Burton continued to log pivotal starts as he continues to build his resume in the Cup Series.
RELATED: Milestone win result of long journey for Burton | All 100 Wood Brothers wins
Best race: He might’ve led only one lap, but Burton’s electric — and emotional — victory at Daytona International Speedway takes the cake, and for good reason. His last-lap pass for the win over two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch not only netted Burton his first win but additionally garnered his first Cup playoff berth. The victory was monumental for not just Burton but Wood Brothers Racing; the win was the team’s 100th and its first since Ryan Blaney found Victory Lane at Pocono Raceway in 2017. Topping the race triumph off with Harrison’s father, Jeff, on the NBC broadcast call? Priceless.
Other season highlights: Although he was eliminated from title contention, Burton closed out the season on relatively solid footing, even more impressive given a switch at crew chief from Jeremy Bullins to Grant Hutchens with two races to go. Over those final two contests — at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway — Burton tallied two starts inside the top 10 (sixth at Martinsville, ninth at Phoenix), marking the only instance the No. 21 started back-to-back races with such strong track position in 2024.
Stat to know: Five of Burton’s six finishes inside the top 15 occurred on tracks 1.5 miles or longer. Burton finished 11th at Atlanta Motor Speedway in February, 10th at Talladega Superspeedway in April, 14th at Michigan International Speedway in August, first at Daytona in August and 15th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October. Burton’s only finish inside the top 15 on a track shorter than 1.5 miles came at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in June.
Quotable: “It’s just been so hard, and that’s the way it should be. The Cup Series is really, really hard. But to get the Wood Brothers’ 100th win, get my very first Cup win, it’s just really, really hard to put in words.” — Harrison Burton on Daytona triumph.
MORE: Burton joins AM Racing for 2025 Xfinity campaign | 2024-25 Silly Season news
Looking ahead: With Wood Brothers Racing tabbing Josh Berry as No. 21 driver next season, Burton and his now-former organization will part ways, with Burton slated to return to the Xfinity circuit as full-time pilot of AM Racing’s flagship Ford in 2025. Although the transition ends Burton’s three-year run as a full-time Cup Series driver, the move allows the driver to continue harnessing his racing craft in a series where he’s had past success, collecting four wins, 25 top fives and 44 top 10s across two full-time seasons in 2020-21.