‘Not accepting’ the results as they improve performance and attitude, Burton and co.

Harrison Burton called the crew chief switch between the No. 2 Team Penske and his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing team a “kick in the tail”

to get things going for both teams. Since the swap was completed in September, getting ready for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season has already begun.

Burton currently collaborates with Cup Series veteran and successful crew chief Jeremy Bullins. Bullins’ leadership potential was quickly

apparent to Burton, who described him as “very competitive” and said that his intensity complemented a mellow driver on the team.

The team has also experienced a personality shift as a result.

In an interview with RACER, Burton states, “We need people who are (expletive) off, and we need some attitude within our group, some swagger when

we roll into the racetrack that we know we can do this.” “I believe that’s beginning to happen. It’s an amazing sensation.

 

Burton draws a comparison between it and his days as a late model driver arriving at the racetrack determined to be the best. There’s no better feeling, in

his opinion. But at the NASCAR level, it is unfakeable. It must be merited.

Burton states, “We’re starting to earn that and show that to ourselves.

It is impossible to overstate how difficult Burton’s Cup Series career’s first two years have been, or how difficult it is to be a top contender when advancing.

In 73 starts, Burton has four top-10 results. In the championship standings, he has placed 27th in 2022 and 31st in 2023.

at any sport, mental toughness is a prerequisite. Burton is willing to accept any attitude shift that will further his goals.

“Are you aware of the coaching contract with Deion Sanders?” says Burton. “That team believes in themselves despite having gone through numerous transfers

and other hardships. High-level athletes possess that attitude.

Burton evaluated his season and saw that while he was capable of running well, it was difficult to repeat. The majority of his frustration stems from it, particularly

on the good days when good things didn’t work out. This applies to all Cup drivers.

 

But Burton thought his sophomore year saw some improvement. Burton believed that there were more races where he was fast, despite the Ford camp having a

difficult season. He placed in the top 20 twelve times and in the top ten twice.

“In all honesty, it’s clear that we haven’t performed well enough,” Burton states. To qualify for the playoffs is the aim. To run well enough on a regular basis to

accomplish that is the aim. We haven’t carried it out. However, I believe that in comparison to the environment, our group has improved, and we only need to

make these last few moves to catch up to the [Joey] Loganos and the [Ryan] Blaneys. Those individuals. However, I believe that is well known, as is the reason

behind the crew chief switch. Austin [Cindric] and I both required something distinct.

“I really enjoyed working with Brian Wilson; however, sometimes it’s beneficial to have an alternative viewpoint. We’re attempting to expand from there, in my

opinion, as it was a wise decision for both sides.

For Burton, the small victories vary from week to week because there are so many moving parts in a race. In addition, the level of competition has significantly

increased since Burton left the Xfinity Series, where he was one of only a few elite drivers. Nowadays, there are more than twenty drivers with quick race cars

who know how to make the most of pit road and their gear.

Burton believes that standing out in the Cup Series is difficult. But when a driver does, it’s exceptional. On the other hand, it’s simple to run 24th all day and feel

stuck, but the outcome can quickly alter with a few late restarts. It’s critical to seize those opportunities, and Burton has observed That’s what some of the greates

t in the industry do.

“Because I race Cup champions a lot,” Burton explains. “I’ll be racing Logano or [Kevin] Harvick, and when the race is over, I’ll look up and see that those guys

finish fifth and me, where we were racing earlier, finish first.”

Loyal fans of Wood Brothers Racing haven’t given Burton much grace. There’s a desire to see the iconic and beloved car he drives succeed. The Wood Brothers

would win their 100th game in the series with their next victory.

Burton is aware of the criticism, especially in light of how common social media is these days. The 23-year-old observes how many drivers do it differently and

doesn’t sugarcoat how difficult it is to keep growing while being closely watched. Denny Hamlin is one of those people who cheers on the boos and embraces

the haters. Burton is still attempting to come to terms with who he is, but there is a conflict between the more patient side of him and the side that wants to strike back.

“It will eventually manifest,” states Burton. “The little things, the work you do in the background, will add up. All you need to do is trust that good things will

eventually trickle down and then, who cares? In the end, what matters is what someone who has never competed in this level of race car driving doesn’t know?

You have people in your life who say incorrect things—not because they ought to know better, but because they are ignorant of the whole situation—and it still irritates you.

“I’ve improved greatly in that area.”

 

There’s nothing like the Cup Series to toughen up a driver.

Burton says, “And it should; that’s what makes it special.” At the end of the day, I know I have an extremely tall mountain to climb when I wake up in the morning.

That’s awesome. That’s thrilling. What could be more thrilling than having to compete at the highest level against the greatest in the world the moment you wake up

and realize you have difficult tasks ahead of you?

Still, it could be simple to misunderstand Burton. Even though he gives off the impression of being cool, collected, and laid back, running fifteenth place requires patience.

It hasn’t been easy for a young Cup Series driver to modify expectations and goals after experiencing success and winning while

“ascending the racing hierarchy.”

He responds, “Not that I’m accepting 15th as the goal.” “I don’t think our team is about that, but it’s becoming more normal to understand that’s a base hit and a good day.”

Recognizing and accepting are two different things. Burton firmly believes that “you become what you accept,” and he and his group will not be acting in accordance with

that going forward.

 

Burton claims, “The problem with our group is that we’re not accepting the results.” “I believe that people may assume this about me easily since I have a laid-back manner.

After a good or bad race, I kind of act the same when I board the plane. That doesn’t always mean that you’re happy to be here. It consumes me and

even when our weekend isn’t going well, the race team stays alive.

Since I’m a laid-back person, I believe it’s simple for others to comment, “Oh, he doesn’t give a (expletive).” I don’t think it matters or that I need to state that (which is untrue).

We’re working to build on the good days and rejecting the bad ones in our group.