It's high time for Harrison Burton to prove his Cup Series worth

 If there's ever been a time for Harrison Burton to finally look like a competitive NASCAR Cup Series driver, it would be now. 

With the announcement that Josh Berry will take over Burton's seat in the No. 21 car in 2025, Burton has 17 races remaining on the Cup Series calendar to prove his worth to any Cup Series teams hitting the open market this offseason. 

In an extremely competitive free-agent field ready to do battle once the checkered flag flies in Phoenix, though, Burton may be forced to dip back down to the NASCAR Xfinity Series or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series if a Cup Series ride isn't available. 

During a year in which Burton sits second-to-last in points among full-time Cup Series competitors, expectations aren't high for the second half of his season. However, there's no motivation in sports quite like having the world against you and it seems as though most of the NASCAR world has seemingly given up on Burton. 

While it's understandable that most fans wouldn't run through a fire to defend Burton's rather lackluster Cup Series results, it should be noted that at only 23 years old, Burton would still have plenty of time to rebuild his career in the lower ranks before moving back up to the Cup Series if he was forced to drop down.

Burton likely won't make the playoffs or magically turn around his season over the final 17 races of 2024, but with a little extra fire in his belly, putting together consistent, top-20 efforts would be a positive sign, especially when the mood surrounding the No. 21 team likely isn't the best. 

In a lame-duck year for both driver and team, Burton is now faced with the toughest (yet most important) task of his NASCAR career so far. If he wants another chance in the Cup Series, he must treat the final 17 events of the season like an audition for the lead in a Shakespearean play – whether it ends up a tragedy or comedy remains to be seen.