It requires exceptional skill to get an average car spinning on the track. Some drivers have managed to win races in vehicles that others wouldn’t even consider capable of reaching victory lane. This ability is what sets these drivers apart from the rest. Generally, though, drivers must establish a strong connection with their cars to succeed.
Such is the case with Harrison Burton, according to Dale Earnhardt Jr. He believes the 23-year-old hasn’t been able to showcase his full potential due to the inconsistency of Joe Gibbs Racing cars. Given his talent, Burton deserved a better car that could provide more winning opportunities than what he received at JGR or Wood Brothers Racing.
What’s the issue with JGR cars?
It takes a combination of solid training and the right equipment to bring out the best in race car drivers. Some drivers excel immediately, while others take longer to find their groove. However, the responsibility doesn’t solely fall on the driver’s shoulders—they made it this far based on their talent. Achieving success often requires a balance between the equipment and the driver’s temperament.
Discussing the drivers who have performed well in Joe Gibbs’ cars, Dale Jr. noted on the 571st episode of Dirty Air, “I think they’ve got a couple of good drivers in their cars, but they don’t dominate, right? Only a few people could get into the Gibbs car and dominate—Kyle Busch and Ty Gibbs, for the most part, right? Denny Hamlin, somewhat.”
Considering that Ty Gibbs secured an Xfinity Championship in his first full-time Xfinity season in 2022, you’d expect him to be in the top 5, but he’s not—although 10th place is still respectable. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin has faced his own challenges this year, finishing 8th. Christopher Bell is in 6th place, but he’s still not in contention for the championship. So, while JGR cars are good, they might not be the best on the track.
Kyle Busch dominated the Xfinity Series while driving for Joe Gibbs, amassing 90 wins with the team out of his 103 total wins in the series—a record that no other driver has achieved in Xfinity or at Joe Gibbs. He also won nearly 200 Cup Series races and two Cup Series championships with JGR, making him an exception within the team with these remarkable accomplishments.
However, Harrison Burton managed only four wins in his three-year career with JGR in Xfinity, though he did make it to the Playoffs in both 2020 and 2021. Given his talent, there must have been other factors that prevented him from winning a championship. His underwhelming Xfinity performance may be why he didn’t attract top teams for his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2022.
Now, after three years and being on the verge of losing his spot in the #21 car, Burton has clinched an important victory and secured a place in the Playoffs for the first time. Does this mean he could also secure a seat for the 2025 season?
Take Kyle Busch’s experience as an example—he struggled with Richard Childress Racing all season, sometimes blaming the next-gen cars or complaining about a lack of speed. The bottom line was that he couldn’t get the wins. So, RCR focused on building him the car he needed, and once they did, he started delivering results.
A similar logic applies to Harrison Burton. He was driving a car provided by Roger Penske and a new WBR leadership, so the lack of wins isn’t solely his fault. Dale Jr. agrees: “I think that I watched that #21 car closer than I think a lot of people might…and it’s been a tough year.” Looking at NASCAR standings, only one of Team Penske’s Fords was in the Playoffs before Burton’s Daytona win.
The team needed to understand what Burton required to achieve better results. Burton’s name is now etched in WBR’s history as the driver who secured its long-awaited 100th victory. If he has what it takes to win, he needs to find a team willing to go all out to get him into victory lane. “Harrison outruns or runs with anyone else really that’s gotten that equipment,” asserts Dale Jr.
Burton could very well be an underdog waiting for the right team to recognize his potential. Once he finds the right fit, he could prove his critics, who doubted his 2024 Playoffs eligibility, wrong.
