As Sam Hunt Racing expands to two full-time cars, each with a full-time driver in 2026, Harrison Burton will join Dean Thompson on the organization’s driver roster.
Burton will drive the No. 24 Toyota in the newly entitled NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with Thompson remaining in the No. 26 Toyota. Thompson has scored seven top-10 finishes this season, with a best of fifth at Charlotte in May.
“I feel like Dean has earned his seat at Sam Hunt Racing this year, and I wanted him back,” said team owner Sam Hunt. “He’s just done a great job, and there’s a lot of pressure on Dean next year to continue that upward trajectory and continue to grow as a driver.
“On the other hand, Harrison is something I’m thrilled to announce. I’ve known Harrison for years now at a bit of a distance, but I’ve always admired how he treats people and how he acts along with how hard he works along with being a very accomplished race car driver.
“For me, this was just a very good human fit all the way around. These two guys I think a lot of and want to see succeed and make it to Sunday at some point. I just asked they buy in at the same level and be a part of this team’s growth, and if they do, then we will have a chance to get both cars in the Playoffs.”
In the past two years, Burton has been in both the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series Playoffs. He won with Wood Brothers Racing at Daytona in 2024 to qualify for the Cup postseason. This year, he made the Playoffs on points with AM Racing and was eliminated in the Round of 12.
“For me, it’s just an alignment of beliefs with Sam and their group and Dean,” said Burton, who drove Toyotas earlier in his career for both Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series.
“What they believe in and how they race and the way they approach things, it’s just a great fit. I couldn’t be more excited to join this group for what feels like going back home with our friends with Toyota.”
Burton collected all four of his Xfinity wins with JGR in 2020.
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