Daytona turned in a strong performance on Saturday night as Harrison Burton took the lead in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford to beat Kyle Busch and earn his 2024 playoff spot.Parker Retzlaff pushed Burton ahead of Busch in the final race, another Chevrolet driver. Burton then blocked aggressively, crossing the finish line and finally becoming a NASCAR Cup Series winner after 98 career starts. And he did it all with his father and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Burton in the cockpit.The Wood brothers part ways with Burton at the end of the 2024 season. his post-race interview as his future in the sport remains unknown.
“I don’t know! I cried the whole victory lap,” said an angry Burton. “Of course, I was fired from that position. I wanted to do everything I could for Wood Brothers. They gave me an incredible opportunity in life. To give them 100 [wins] when they left … it’s incredible. Now we’re in the playoffs! He added: “It’s unbelievable. It was the hardest three years of my life. Obviously the hardest three years for some of these guys. To win like we did, to beat the best in the business, Kyle Busch, until to the finish line. That’s pretty awesome.”The Wood Brothers, who have competed in NASCAR since 1953 but haven’t won since Pocono in 2017.
Busch finished second, Christopher Bell third, Cody Ware fourth and Ty Gibbs fifth. Bubba Wallace, Parker Retzlaff, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Hemric and Chris Buescher completed the top 10.This win completely changes the playoffs, putting Bubba Wallace at 21 points and Ross Chastain at 27 points, with Chris Buescher now in the point. 16th and last place.The race featured 40 lead changes among 16 drivers, but was also slowed by seven cautions and one red flag stop. The two stage winners [Berry and Joey Logano] did not finish the race after the crash.The final laps of the race were nothing short of chaotic. A late-race caution just before the green flag pit stops sparked a sprint to the finish. Michael McDowell fell from the lead and flew into the middle of the pack. Fortunately, the car got back on its wheels.
Unfortunately, Josh Berry was the next driver to spin and things got worse. It came back in another crash, slamming into the inner wall and spinning like a top on its roof. He managed to get out of the car without injury. An additional air deflector added to the right side of the cars this week apparently didn’t help.
NASCAR Cup Daytona: Harrison Burton takes shock win for Wood Brothers
