Harrison Burton Claws His Way Back Into the Top Five at Iowa Speedway

Harrison Burton didn’t just show up at Iowa Speedway last Saturday. He showed out. Starting 17th, Burton clawed his way up the leaderboard, proving that the No. 25 DEX Imaging Ford Mustang had more bite than many might have given it credit for. By the time the dust settled, he’d snagged a fifth-place finish. Not a bad look if you’re fighting to keep playoff hopes alive.

Burton stayed in the top 15 for all 250 laps, earned five stage points, and recorded his best average running position of the season at eighth. Statistically speaking, it was his best performance in ages. But stats only tell half the story. This wasn’t just a “good day at the office” for Harrison. It was a gritty, all-out hustle to keep his playoff dream alive.

Harrison Burton and the Playoff Chase

Now sitting 17 points above the cut line, Harrison Burton’s climb up the leaderboard was more than just a nice confidence booster. It was necessary. With four races left in the regular season, every single point matters, and Burton knows it. He’s ahead of Ryan Sieg and cousin Jeb Burton, but if we know anything about NASCAR, it’s that on-track showdowns are what fans live for and are always just one race away.

“It’s one week at a time,” Burton told reporters with the type of focus that probably scares his competition. “We’ve been good at that—not looking too far ahead. It’s just all eyes on the next weekend.” This means no time for celebrating fifth-place finishes. Burton’s already plotting how he’s going to one-up himself at the next race.

A Team That Thrives on Hard Work

One thing Harrison Burton doesn’t shy away from is giving credit where it’s due. In his case, that’s to the hard-working team behind his No. 25 car.“They work a lot of hours,” Burton said. “I keep saying it every interview, but we probably have fewer people than most teams, and they’re working a crap ton of hours. Just makes me proud of those guys.” You have to appreciate a driver who not only respects his team but shouts them out every chance he gets. These are the types of comments that make fans rally behind a driver, and honestly, Burton seems to get that.

But Is Good…Good Enough?

Here’s the thing about Burton’s current position in the standings. Sure, he’s 17 points above the cut line, but that lead means next to nothing if someone unexpected nabs a win in the next four weeks. Burton himself knows this all too well, considering his spoiler role in last season’s Cup Series playoffs.

“I was the dude that kind of ruined some people’s [Cup] seasons last year doing that, winning from behind in points,” Burton bluntly declared, as if to remind everyone else just how dangerous a long-shot winner can be. He’s taking his own advice now, strategizing not just to cruise into the playoffs but to steal a win and punch his ticket outright. “You could get a new winner,” he explained, “so, in my head, we have to be aggressive and try to win one of these things.”

Final Thoughts

With the Xfinity Series heating up as the playoffs loom closer, it’s clear that Harrison Burton needs more races like he had at Iowa Speedway. Whether that’s securing another top-five finish or pulling off an outright win, he must keep the momentum alive. The competition’s too tight right now for anything less than perfection.

If this fifth-place finish says anything, it’s that Harrison Burton thrives under pressure. Whether he’s leaving it all on the track in a high-stakes points battle or rolling the dice for a victory, this guy has proven he’s in it to win it. The biggest question now? Does he have another gear left, or have we already seen the best of Harrison Burton this season? Judging by the confidence in his voice, but don’t count him out just yet.