Open in App
  • Local
  • U.S.
  • Election
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Education
  • Real Estate
  • Newsletter
  • Yardbarker

    Is Harrison Burton's Daytona win the biggest upset of NASCAR's playoff era?

    By Samuel Stubbs,

    14 hours ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Lvb5i_0v9XvXp300

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2JARVw_0v9XvXp300
    Harrison Burton climbs out of the No. 21 Ford as his crew showers him with Coke Zero Sugar in Victory Lane after winning the Coke Zero Sugar 400, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, at Daytona International Speedway.

    Harrison Burton entered Saturday's Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona last in NASCAR Cup Series points, and despite a win, he left Daytona last in points.

    After 25 races, Burton sits 34th in the Cup Series standings, 517 points back of leader Tyler Reddick. He's 10 points back of 33rd-place driver Zane Smith.

    Yet, when the NASCAR Playoffs begin at Atlanta on Sept. 8, Burton will be racing for a NASCAR Cup Series championship.

    Burton's season-saving win begs the question: Is the No. 21 team's unlikely victory the biggest upset since NASCAR introduced the "win and you're in" system in 2014?

    The first year of the system saw a couple of upsets, as Aric Almirola and AJ Allmendinger both claimed wins, but since then, things have been relatively calm. 2016 saw Tony Stewart and Chris Buescher become unlikely victors, but aside from a couple of Daytona victors in Austin Cindric and Austin Dillon, no driver has truly shaken up the playoff picture with a major upset.

    Dillon, who was 32nd in points entering Richmond on Aug. 11, broke through for an upset win, though the nature of his victory revoked his playoff status, leaving the No. 3 out of the postseason festivities.

    However, Burton's victory is official, and with nothing in sight that could strip him of his playoff eligibility, his eleventh hour win at Daytona can now officially stand as the biggest playoff upset in the decade long history of the elimination style format.

    Burton may be last among all full-time drivers in points, but his first career win also means that he'll take up a playoff spot this fall.

    If there's ever going to be a driver that tops Burton's top underdog status, they'll have to wait at least a year before claiming the crown.

    Expand All
    Comments / 0
    Add a Comment
    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
    Most Popular newsMost Popular

    Comments / 0