Silly Season announcements and the elimination of drivers at the end of a playoff round seem to go hand in hand.
After his elimination in the round of 12 last Saturday, AM Racing and Harrison Burton announced that Burton will not be returning to the 25 car next season in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (currently Xfinity Series).
Prior to joining AM for the 2025 season, Burton spent three year driving The Wood Brothers 21 car. Burton earned The Wood Brothers their 100th career win.
Scoring 10 top 10 spots including two top fives in 29 seasons for the 2025 season, Burto earned his way into the playoffs on points but was eliminated last weekend after the race at The Roval.
Speaking on social media, Burton said, “I want to thank AM Racing, Tim Self and Wade Moore for the opportunity and trust at a pivotal moment in my career after I lost my Cup seat entering 2025. From day one, the group’s commitment and preparation helped us deliver tangible progress. So far, we have team-record top-five and top-10 results and the organization’s first trip to the Xfinity Series Playoffs. I’m proud of how we show up each week, compete at the highest level and finish strong. I’m also grateful for the people who made this possible: our crew members, engineers, office staff, partners and the fans who have our backs everywhere we race.”
He added, “this season reminded me why I love competing: the teamwork, the focus and the fight. I’m super excited about the next chapter.”
AM Racing issued a statement saying, “the organization thanks Harrison and the Burton family for their professionalism and contributions on and off the track, and wishes them continued success in Harrison’s future endeavors. AM Racing will share additional updates regarding 2026 driver and program plans at a later date.”