NASCAR’s last place driver is headed to the Cup Series playoffs

NASCAR's last place driver is headed to the Cup Series playoffs

As a seasoned gamer who’s spent countless hours racing virtual NASCARs, I must say, Harrison Burton’s real-life journey mirrors the thrill and unpredictability of a high-stakes race. The ups and downs he’s experienced this season are a rollercoaster that would make even the most hardcore gamers hold their breath.

After the Brickyard 400 race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July, Harrison Burton of Wood Brothers Racing dropped to the 34th and final position in the NASCAR Cup Series rankings. This significant decline can largely be attributed to the impressive performance surge shown by Zane Smith from Spire Motorsports.

At Talladega Superspeedway in April, Burton managed his best performance of the season with a 10th place finish. On the other hand, Smith achieved a personal best at Nashville Superspeedway in late June, narrowly missing first place by mere fractions of a second to Joey Logano who took the win.

On the eve of Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, Burton found himself lagging significantly in the standings. He trailed Smith by a considerable margin of 26 points, and his average performance was slightly above 11 points per race.

After the lengthy, 164-lap race on the four-corner, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) Daytona Beach oval with its high banks, Burton remains at the bottom of the overall rankings.

The difference is that he is now a NASCAR Cup Series race winner.

Due to his winning last-lap pass for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Richard Childress Racing with Kyle Busch during overtime, Burton has qualified as one of the sixteen drivers who will compete in the four-round, ten-race playoffs.

Originating from Huntersville, North Carolina and just 23 years old, this driver is among the thirteen who have secured their place in the postseason by triumphing in a race during the regular season. Regrettably, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon also achieved a victory that would have guaranteed him entry, but it was later disqualified.

Last year, a rule existed where I had to be within the top 30 in the points ranking to have my victory qualify for playoff eligibility. However, that rule has been scrapped this time around.

As I sit here, I find myself trailing by a significant margin to get into the top 30 with just one more race left in the regular season at Darlington Raceway this Sunday night. In essence, it seems like I won’t make the cut. Currently, I’m averaging about 12.24 points per race, but there’s a 10-point gap between me and Smith, who’s holding onto 33rd place. It’s a tough spot to be in, but I’ll give it my all to close the gap!

As a NASCAR enthusiast myself, I can’t contain my excitement for the Cook Out Southern 500! This upcoming race at Darlington Raceway will decide the three additional drivers joining Burton in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Tune in live on USA Network starting at 6:00 p.m. ET this Sunday, September 1st. To ensure you don’t miss a single lap, sign up for FuboTV now and enjoy the race to its fullest!

2024-08-26 16:02