Harrison Burton, who surprised by making the Playoffs with AM Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025, will move to Sam Hunt Racing full-time in the newly rebranded NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026.
The 25-year-old racer, who is a former NASCAR Cup Series race winner and made the Playoffs in the Cup Series in 2024, will pilot the team’s No. 24 Toyota GR Supra full-time next year.
With the addition of Burton, Sam Hunt Racing will officially expand to two full-time entries in 2026 as Burton will join Dean Thompson, who took over the reins of the No. 26 Toyota this season.
“I thought this would be a fun way to officially announce that Harrison Burton and Dean Thompson will be driving my 26 and 24 cars full-time next season,” Sam Hunt said in a press conference inside the Martinsville Speedway media center on Saturday. “Yeah, really exciting day for us, exciting day for the company.”
Burton likes what he has seen from Sam Hunt Racing, and he feels the team is in sync with how he likes to compete in the NASCAR National Series ranks.
“For me, just obviously an alignment of beliefs with Sam and their group and Dean. What they believe in, how they race, and the way that they approach things. For me, it’s just a great fit,” Burton explained. “I’m super, super excited, couldn’t be more excited to join this group for what feels like going back home to our friends at Toyota.”
Thompson, who has had a successful rookie campaign behind the wheel of an SHR Toyota, is excited for the addition
“I’m really excited. It’s a blessing and an honor for sure to be on this team with Sam. They welcomed me with open arms this year, probably at a point in my career where I didn’t deserve to be welcomed with open arms. Just really excited to keep on with this team.”
Burton, the son of NASCAR legend Jeff Burton, scored four wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series while driving a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in 2020. Burton, who has competed in three full-time seasons in the series, has never failed to make the Playoffs.
That being said, Sam Hunt Racing goes into the 2026 campaign optimistic that it can take that next step and become a Playoff contender.
“I think if we all do our jobs, I think we have a shot to have two cars in the Playoffs next year,” Hunt explained.
In addition to the four Playoff appearances combined between the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series, Burton has shown a penchant for top finishes as he has accumulated 28 top-five finishes and 59 top-10s in 106 career starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
