NASCAR has been a family-oriented sport ever since its inception. From the outside, it seems that the kids hailing from these prominent families have it easy. But in reality, it’s a constant struggle for the younger generation to keep up with the racing legacy. Sometimes, the pressure gets the better of them; this is something Harrison Burton can relate to.

While his maiden Cup Series win at Daytona did see him turn a corner for good, the past three years at Wood Brothers Racing have been disappointing, to say the least. It’s not only the drivers but also their family members who are put in precarious situations to guide them through such tough times. And this is where Jeff Burton’s contribution proved vital for Harrison’s redemption story.

Jeff Burton had to strike the right balance in mentoring his son

Jeff is a decorated NASCAR driver with 21 Cup Series wins under his belt. Needless to say, he knows the ins and outs of the stock car racing scene, which would help him guide his son Harrison Burton. The 23-year-old driver has found it hard to get up to the speed of Cup racing competition at Wood Brothers Racing. So much so, that he failed to deliver a win for his team despite two full-time runs in the No. 21 car.

Although Jeff was outspoken and knew how to get things up and running around him, his son was rather timid and reserved. So Jeff had to be wary not to bombard his son with too many pointers on how to overturn his gloomy situation. Rather, he chose a philosophical route in helping him improve his racecraft, and going by last weekend’s results, this approach seems to be a success.

Sharing the equation between him and his son Jeff explained, “He has struggled in my eyes, understanding number 1 how difficult Cup is and number 2 how you have to take control of some situations off the track and it’s really important. So I just told him you are standing in your way, your own way of being the race car driver that you can be, and what does that mean, and I don’t have the answer. But you gotta go figure it out,” Burton said via the Happy Hour podcast.

However, he also understood not to overdo things and allowed his son to find a remedy for his issue on his own. “You also have to as a parent to know when to shut the hell up. There are times, not every conversation with your kid is a teaching moment, right? I don’t wanna be that guy that is constantly pounding on my kid; do this, do that. I don’t want to be that guy; I want them to be their own people,” he added.

Although emotions might be running high for the Burton family after the Daytona win. But Harrison will have to knock on some doors to continue his Cup Series career in 2025.

What’s next for Harrison Burton?

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Wood Brothers Racing has already announced Josh Berry as their new driver to lead the No. 21 team in 2025. This means Burton is open to exploring new opportunities and finding a new ride to help stay afloat at the Cup level. Before this win, teams would’ve been hesitant to consider the 23-year-old as a genuine prospect. But he flipped the script, handing WBR their 100th Cup Series win and taking the #21 team to the playoffs.

Usually, drivers who are in search of a new ride are desperate to find one. Because at Cup Series the competition is cutthroat, but Burton isn’t going to make a hasty decision. “The biggest thing for me is I want to go somewhere that I’m wanted, right? I want to go somewhere that believes in me, sees me as an avenue to win races. Somewhere I feel like I can go and contribute and not just be there to be there,” he said while speaking to Kevin Harvick on his podcast show.

Front Row Motorsports is still on the lookout for a new driver for its third car. And who knows, the Ford connection could help set up this new partnership between them and Harrison Burton?