Harrison Burton’s victory last Saturday at Daytona, his first Cup Series win, shocked the NASCAR community. It wasn’t expected at all that Burton would dramatically shake up the playoff picture with just one race left in the regular season. His win has now put pressure on drivers like Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace, and Chris Buescher, who find themselves in a difficult position.
Following Burton’s surprising win, NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick voiced concerns about the format of NASCAR races. He pointed out that under the current rules, a driver can turn around a poor season with just one race victory. However, Chase Elliott took a different stance. He stepped up to defend Burton and his team, Wood Brothers Racing, saying they fully deserved their win and made the best out of the format provided by NASCAR.
Elliott emphasized that Burton’s victory was fair. The NASCAR playoff format, which has often been controversial, now allows even drivers who are not in the top 30 in points to have a chance at making the playoffs. This year, drivers like Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric, and Harrison Burton have shown that it’s possible to turn things around with one key win.
Many are debating whether this system truly lets the best drivers advance, but Elliott believes that the rules are the rules. Speaking to reporter Bob Pockrass, Elliott expressed his happiness for Burton, stating, “NASCAR makes the rules, and this is the format they created. This is what you get sometimes when things go like they did on Saturday night.”
On top of his own win, Burton helped Wood Brothers Racing achieve a historic milestone—its 100th Cup Series victory. This achievement is especially poignant as both Burton and the team will part ways at the end of the season. Despite their upcoming split, the team and driver gave it their all, determined to make the most of the 2024 season. The goal of reaching 100 wins kept them motivated, and they finally achieved this dream at Daytona.
Burton spoke about how tough the last few years have been but also how much this victory means to him and the team. He mentioned, “It’s been the hardest three years of my life. It’s just been rough, and these guys have rallied behind me when it matters the most.” Achieving the 100th win for Wood Brothers Racing is something Burton deeply cherishes, feeling honored to be part of this significant moment in the team’s history.
Though Burton has been uncertain about his future in the Cup Series, this win has given him a new goal: to make the playoffs and fight hard in the remaining races of the season. He stated, “Now we have a chance to be in the playoffs, so we’re not gonna roll over and die. This win is the boost we’ve needed, and we’re going to go to Darlington ready to fight.” Burton’s Daytona victory might have just elevated his standing as a promising driver for any team looking for new talent in 2025.
