Where does Harrison Burton go in 2025?

LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 15: Harrison Burton, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, looks on in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 15, 2023 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

What’s Happening?

Harrison Burton is one of a few Cup Series regulars who have yet to make plans for 2025. With silly season moves happening left and right, Burton may need to act fast to find a ride for next season.

Burton’s career

Harrison Burton, son of NASCAR legend Jeff Burton, has raced in NASCAR since 2016. Burton worked quickly through the Truck Series, spending one season there with Kyle Busch Racing in 2019.

That season would be enough for Burton to move to the Xfinity Series in 2020 with Joe Gibbs Racing. In his first season with JGR, Burton would tally four wins, 15 top-fives, and 22 top-tens for an eighth-place points finish.

He would follow this up with a less impressive ten top-five, 22 top-ten season in 2021. However, Burton would make headlines, signing on to drive for Wood Brothers Racing in 2022.

Burton took over the No. 21 after two quality seasons from Matt Dibenedetto. Burton’s first season would be his best, as he earned his first and only top-five. A 31st-place points finish followed it up and is currently 34th in points.

Since Burton has regressed each season, now, three seasons in, Burton will be replaced by Josh Berry in 2025.

Burton, who has a longtime sponsorship with DEX Imaging, could be a target for multiple teams in all three NASCAR national series. However, that door is closing fast.

What’s left for 2025?

Burton looks unlikely to find a ride in the Cup Series. The shrinking list still has openings in the third Front Row Motorsports car, the Spire No. 7, and potentially the No. 51 at Rick Ware Racing.

Many expect Justin Haley to fill the No. 7 spot, leaving the No. 51 seat open. If DEX were to follow Burton, this could be an option—however, other proven talents could fill that role.

Other options include rumored third cars for 23XI and RFK Racing. However, these rides are merely rumors, and those with traction already have names tied to them.

If the Cup Series is out, what about Xfinity? Having been with Ford since 2022, some expect Burton to maintain this relationship. However, Ford notably has a gridlocked developmental system, with only three Xfinity Series programs.

Burton could have been a part of the new Haas Factory Team. However, the team has filled its ranks with Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer for next season.

This leaves a spot at JGR, a team that Burton is familiar with, and a viable option that could only be overlapped by William Sawalich or Corey Heim. Mayer’s departure leaves a spot at JR Motorsports, though the team could shut down the No. 1 as they already have Connor Zilisch hired to drive the part-time No. 88 full-time in 2025.

Other non-Ford options include the now vacant and sponsor-less No. 16 at Kaulig Racing. A.J. Allmendiger’s recension back to Cup leaves that ride open. However, options like Nick Sanchez or Daniel Dye look favorable for that spot.

If Ford wanted to hold onto Burton, an option could lie at RSS Racing. The team has shown great stride in the past few seasons and could use a sponsor like DEX.

Another option for Burton with Ford is with AM Racing. The team and Hailie Deegan parted ways earlier this season and have since seen great runs from Lawless Alan and Joey Logano.

This silly season has continued to show that no one is safe, and Burton found himself part of the domino effect. However, whether it’s sponsorship, name recognition, or history of success, many expect to see Burton back on track in 2025.

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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - APRIL 06: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 06, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Lionel Racing Reveals First Wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics Diecast

What’s Happening?

Lionel Racing finally confirmed the first wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics 1:64 scale diecast for Monday morning, with the line of retail-exclusive diecast featuring a new look for the new year.

  • This line will include six throwback paint schemes from NASCAR’s 2025 throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway. Though they did not release one in 2025, this move restarts an annual tradition of Lionel releasing at least one wave of cars carrying the colors of that prior season’s throwback designs.
  • Included in this wave of cars are Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Sammy Smith. Alongside these paint schemes’ debuts in the Authentics line is a new design for the packaging of the 2026 line of NASCAR Authentics.
  • Last season was somewhat turbulent for Lionel as, alongside issues with tariffs, the brand only released three waves of NASCAR Autentics, one wave of NASCAR Autentics Winners Circle diecast, and two waves of Haulers.
  • Lionel announcing the first wave of 2026 early on in the new year is perhaps a sign that 2026 could return this line to its regular release schedule. The post from Lionel Racing also confirmed that the brand will announce another wave by the end of the week, further hinting at a recommitment to the Authentics line.

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SPARTA, KY - JUNE 26: Chase Pistone, driver of the #9 NTS Motorsports Chevrolet, talks with his crew during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Series UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway on June 26, 2014 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Chase Pistone, NASCAR Trucks and Nationwide Series Driver, Passes Away

What’s Happening?

Chase Pistone, a former competitor on the short track racing circuit in addition to NASCAR’s National Series, has passed away. Pistone, now a successful Legends Car owner, was 42.

  • Chase’s brothers Nick and Tom Pistone confirmed the North Carolina natives’ passing to LegendsNation.com. The cause of Pistone’s passing is unknown. The family asked that media share the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, which is 988.
  • Pistone, the grandson of NASCAR legend “Tiger” Tom Pistone, made his way to NASCAR after competing on short tracks in Legends cars and Late Models. He would make his jump to NASCAR via the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2005, racing for Green Light Racing at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Pistone would continue his NASCAR pursuits in 2006, racing in ARCA and the NASCAR Busch Series. Unfortunately, these two starts, at Martinsville with the Busch Series and Iowa with ARCA, would be his last for nearly a decade.
  • Pistone returned to NASCAR in 2014, racing in a combined eight NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series races. During this season, his final in NASCAR, the then 30-year-old scored his best National Series finish, ninth place in the Truck Series annual trip to Gateway.

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8 Takeaways From NASCAR At COTA

Three races in, the 2026 season is finally starting to show its hand. COTA shifted narratives, exposed weaknesses, and raised new questions about contenders, pretenders, and everything in between.

  • Has Shane van Gisbergen officially been proven mortal after getting outraced late at Circuit of the Americas?
  • Is 19-year-old Connor Zilisch already ahead of schedule after slicing through the field multiple times?
  • With three straight wins, is Tyler Reddick basically a lock for the postseason this early?
  • And how concerned should the 48 team be after a rough weekend for Alex Bowman?

From substitute drivers being forced into action to points gaps growing faster than expected, COTA delivered more than just a road course chess match. There were momentum swings, reputation hits, and at least one young driver stacking up enemies before stacking up results.

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