It’s high time for Harrison Burton to prove the value of the Cup Series

If there was ever a time when Harrison Burton would finally look like a competitive NASCAR Cup Series driver, it is now.

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

However, in an extremely competitive field of free agents ready to compete as soon as the checkered flag waves in Phoenix, Burton could be forced to return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series if he does not earn a spot in the Cup Series.

In a year where Burton sits second to last in the Cup Series standings, expectations aren’t high for the second half of his season. However, there’s nothing in sports that’s as motivating as having the whole world against you, and it seems like most of the NASCAR world has given up on Burton.

While it’s understandable that most fans wouldn’t run through fire to defend Burton’s rather lackluster Cup Series results, it’s important to remember that at just 23 years old, Burton would have plenty of time to rebuild his career in the lower ranks before being able to move back up to the Cup Series if he were forced to drop.

Burton probably won’t make the playoffs, nor will he magically turn his season around in the final 17 races of 2024, but with a little more drive, consistent top-20 performances would be a positive sign, especially since the mood on the No. 21 team is probably not the best.

In a year that has been a disappointment for both driver and team, Burton now faces the toughest (and most important) task of his NASCAR career yet. 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 role in a Shakespeare play – whether it will be a tragedy or a comedy remains to be seen.