It’s now day four of the ongoing buzz surrounding Harrison Burton’s victory at the Coke Zero Sugar 400, and the debate is still raging. While Burton’s win has secured his place in the playoffs, it’s the way he made the cut that has people talking. His last-minute move at Daytona catapulted him from 34th in the standings into the top 16, edging out Bubba Wallace, who is now just 21 points shy of the playoff cutoff. Given the dramatic leap in the rankings, it’s understandable why some fans aren’t thrilled.
Ultimately, NASCAR’s rules are what they are, and this playoff format was designed to add excitement to the season. After all, who doesn’t love an underdog story? Burton’s victory has certainly shaken up the standings, which is exactly what NASCAR intended. On his latest podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. voiced his support for the Daytona winner.
Dale Jr. Backs Harrison Burton
Let’s break down some key moments from the last race. Kyle Busch was leading, but Burton, with help from Parker Retzlaff pushing his No. 21 Ford, managed to pull ahead on the final lap. Burton’s win is especially significant considering he was recently let go by Wood Brothers Racing and his future remains uncertain. But why is this relevant?
Burton was under immense pressure as he has yet to secure a team for next season. This win, however, gives him leverage; potential teams will certainly take notice of a Cup Series victory. Although there are few spots left in the Cup Series, securing a playoff spot guarantees a Top 16 finish—an achievement many drivers are still chasing.
When the fairness of Burton’s win was brought up on the Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt Jr.’s co-host acknowledged the controversy, saying, “Harrison played his cards exactly right—all credit to them. But suddenly, a 34th-point car is now one of our top 16 of the year.” Dale Jr. responded that this was in line with the playoff rules. After discussing the integrity of the situation, the team examined how this format has impacted NASCAR.
Burton’s victory, while not without controversy, has significant consequences. Dale Jr. pointed out the financial windfall, noting, “Going from 34th to the playoffs means millions of dollars in revenue for this team. I think I saw somewhere it’s two to three million dollars just for that jump. They checked off a lot of boxes that might never have been checked otherwise, and they’re going to benefit from that financial success.”
The Controversy Surrounding Harrison Burton’s Win
Despite Burton’s all-out effort to secure the win, not everyone is pleased. Some critics argue that his Daytona victory, though a milestone for Wood Brothers Racing as their 100th race win, feels more like a lottery win. They believe that a single race should not determine a top 16 spot, especially when the team has had a below-average season.
The crux of the argument is that while teams like Bubba Wallace’s and Ross Chastain’s consistently finish in the top 5 or top 10, Burton and WBR only had to excel in one race to clinch a playoff spot. Meanwhile, drivers like Wallace and Chastain, who are less than 30 points away from making the playoffs, are left on the sidelines. NASCAR’s playoff format was designed to add unpredictability, much like F1, and it’s doing just that.
In the previous format, a driver could lock in the Cup Series championship with a few races to spare if they had enough points, making the final races less exciting. But now, with this new format, NASCAR has achieved its goal: introducing an underdog into the playoffs, keeping the season unpredictable. Although Kyle Larson holds the lead with four wins this season, Burton now has a shot at closing the gap as the season progresses.
