Insiders Back Harrison Burton’s NASCAR Rise Amidst Cousin Jeb Stealing the Spotlight for All the Wrong Reasons

Harrison Burton’s been grinding his way up the NASCAR ladder with a mix of raw talent and sheer grit. As the son of 21-time Cup winner Jeff Burton, he’s got a legacy to carry, but he’s earned his stripes. In 2020, he lit up the Xfinity Series with Joe Gibbs Racing, snagging four wins, including a heart-pounding last-lap pass on Noah Gragson at Texas, and becoming the first rookie since Austin Dillon in 2012 to score back-to-back victories. While Harrison’s stock rises among insiders, his cousin Jeb Burton’s been grabbing headlines for all the wrong reasons.

At just 20, that breakout season showed Harrison Burton could handle the heat. His jump to the Cup Series in 2022 with the storied Wood Brothers Racing was a tough climb, with only three top-10s in two seasons, but his choice to return to Xfinity in 2025 reflects a mature mindset, echoing his dad’s patient path in the ‘90s. And now, insiders are rallying behind Harrison as the Burton to watch.

Insiders praise Harrison, shade Jeb

On the latest Rubbin is Racing podcast, hosts Spider and Large didn’t hold back on the Burton cousins’ contrasting paths. “(Burton) got demoted to the Xfinity series. I think Harrison Burton has been able to make a little bit of lemonade going into these playoffs and I’m very happy for him cause he’s a nice f—–g kid on top of everything else and he’s a pretty good wheel man,” they said.

Harrison’s “demotion” to Xfinity in 2025 after three tough Cup years with Wood Brothers wasn’t a step back; it was a reset. His 2020 Xfinity season, with four wins and an eighth-place points finish, proved he’s got the goods, and his 2025 playoff run shows he’s rediscovering that form. Insiders love his poise, a trait tied to his dad Jeff’s steady demeanor, and his work ethic has him contending again, turning a setback into a springboard. That resilience is why folks in the garage see him as a future star, not just a legacy kid.

Then there’s Jeb, “I can’t say how much I’m proud of Harrison Burton and I also can’t say how sick of a b—–d Jeb Burton is. Did anyone see him in the Xfinity race? When his tire was on fire it seemed like he went a whole like the half of the track. Absolutely on flames to where I was like. At what point did they stop him and bring out the fire extinguishers? Anyone up to catch that? Jeff Burton?”

Jeb, who shocked with Xfinity wins at Talladega in 2021 and 2023, has a knack for superspeedways but a reputation for chaos. In 2025, his car caught fire after a tire failure, and he drove nearly half a lap with flames billowing, drawing heat for endangering others and NASCAR for a slow caution call. Social media lit up over the safety lapse, and Jeb’s string of inconsistent runs and aggressive moves hasn’t helped.

At Talladega 2025, Jeb Burton furiously protested a photo-finish loss by 0.001 seconds, calling NASCAR’s ruling “bullshit”, demanding proof of the timing line. After the Martinsville race, too, NASCAR fined him $5,000 for unprofessional conduct in the Infield Care Center, adding to his controversial reputation.

While Harrison’s earning praise for his steady climb, Jeb’s antics, like the fiery lap, cement his image as a wildcard, stealing attention for all the wrong reasons.

Almirola’s Bristol gamble connects to Burton’s rise

The 2025 Xfinity Series playoffs kicked off at Bristol with a masterclass in risk-taking that ties right into Harrison Burton’s redemption arc. Aric Almirola, piloting the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, rolled the dice by staying out on old tires, fending off a charging Sheldon Creed for his ninth career win.

“Yeah, I’ve just been tired of getting beat by those guys. I figured I’d try my chances with the lead. They’ve been so fast and they fire off so fast on new cars, I just didn’t think I could beat them straight up on tires. It took me about 20 laps to get going, so I thought my best chance was to stay out on old tires.” Almirola said.

That bold call paid off, with Almirola holding off Creed’s last-corner lunge for the victory, while Sam Mayer, Carson Kvapil, and Connor Zilisch rounded out the top five. Harrison Burton crossed the line seventh, a solid run that keeps him in the playoff hunt, showing the same resilience insiders are raving about.

Burton’s steady performance mirrors Almirola’s calculated gamble. Both drivers leaned on experience to make the most of tough spots. While Jeb’s fiery mishap at Bristol drew eyes for the wrong reasons, Harrison has been quietly stacking results. He now sits safely above the Xfinity playoff cutline as drivers like Taylor Gray (+3 points), Jesse Love (-3), Austin Hill (-16), and Sammy Smith (-24) fight to survive.