NASCAR: Harrison Burton’s replacement called his shot

NASCAR: Harrison Burton's replacement called his shot

As a seasoned gamer with years of racing simulator experience under my belt, I can’t help but admire the resilience and determination displayed by Harrison Burton. The Wood Brothers Racing team has had a long drought since their last win in 2017, and it was no easy feat for any driver to break that streak.

Josh Berry, who is among the four drivers from Stewart-Haas Racing to be affected when their team ceases operations at the end of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series, has secured a new position with Wood Brothers Racing, driving the No. 21 Ford in the 2025 season.

It’s clear that Harrison Burton has faced challenges since driving for the renowned Wood Brothers team, starting from 2022. As a rookie, he ended up in 27th place in the standings, and last season, he ranked 31st. This year, despite competing in 24 races, his best finish has been only 10th and he is currently at the bottom of the standings (34th).

Back in 2017, I was part of the thrill as Wood Brothers Racing clinched their 99th Cup Series win at Pocono Raceway with Ryan Blaney steering the wheel. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to secure that elusive 100th victory before Blaney moved on to Team Penske in 2018.

From 2018 through 2021, Paul Menard, Matt DiBenedetto, and others found themselves falling short of securing that long-awaited win on multiple occasions.

Without a doubt, since Burton had never won during his initial 96 outings with the team, it further lengthened their losing record to an impressive 262 consecutive races.

Josh Berry never wrote off Harrison Burton

Last month, Beyond the Flag asked Berry if it would be significant for him to achieve the Wood Brothers’ 100th victory. However, Berry confessed that he might not have the opportunity to do so.

Berry remarked with a pause, “Indeed, it seems plausible… They still have races this year, so we can’t ignore that possibility. Since 2017, they’ve been chasing their 99th victory, and they’re investing to improve, aiming for more competitiveness, and ultimately, striving for that elusive 100th win.”

Unbeknownst to us, it was the racer who was at the bottom of the NASCAR Cup Series rankings who prevented Berry from securing the 100th win for Wood Brothers Racing.

Despite ending up last in overall points, Burton managed a surprise victory in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway over the weekend, securing his playoff debut and marking the team’s first qualification since DiBenedetto made it through on points four years ago.

In summary: Berry’s statement that there were still 15 races left in the 2024 season, suggests a high regard for his fellow competitors, particularly the one he will be replacing and the team he will be joining, as it indicates a deep respect.

Despite numerous others having given up on the young talent from Huntersville, North Carolina, Berry, Berry didn’t lose faith. Now, it’s clear why as Burton has just clinched the title for the newest winner in the Cup Series. Moreover, he was the one who brought Wood Brothers Racing their 100th victory, achieving this remarkable feat at the renowned “World Center of Racing”.

2024-08-27 16:02