Harrison Burton’s three-year run as driver of the Wood Brothers’ No. 21 Mustang Dark Horse will come to an end this weekend in the Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway.
Burton’s time with the Wood Brothers will be remembered mostly for his performance on Aug. 24, 2024, at Daytona International Speedway when his gutsy charge on the final lap of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 delivered the Woods their 100th Cup Series victory. The win also guaranteed that the Woods will finish at least 16th in the final 2024 points standings due to their inclusion in the Playoffs, where the points were reset for the participants.
“Our Dad got our team’s first win, and Harrison got our 100th in the Cup Series,” Eddie Wood said. “There’s something very special about that.”
A photo of Burton now hangs on the Winner’s Wall in the Wood Brothers Racing Museum in Stuart, Va.
Burton’s photo soon won’t be the museum’s only permanent reminder of that milestone victory. His winning Mustang Dark Horse has been decommissioned and will be put on display at the museum “It’s just like it finished the race at Daytona,” Wood said. “It has the same engine, and it still has all the grit and grime on it.”
That’s just like the Ford that Trevor Bayne drove to victory in the 2011 Daytona 500. It’s on display in the Henry Ford museum, and after all these years still looks just like it did when Bayne pulled off the track after the Woods’ fifth Daytona 500 win in the Cup Series.
Wood said that just as the Daytona 500-winning car driven by Bayne and the victory it delivered have created a strong, lasting connection between Bayne and the team owners, the preservation of Burton’s winning car will do the same for his family’s relationship with their departing driver.
“Everyone who has ever driven for us or worked here remains like family to us,” Wood said. “Having the 100th-win car on permanent display keeps a strong bond between Harrison and our family even though we won’t be racing together.”
But there’s still one more race with Burton behind the wheel of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang Dark Horse, and Wood is hoping they end the season on a positive note.
“Most everyone will be focused on the Championship battle, and we will be pulling for one of the Team Penske drivers to take the title,” Wood said. “As for our team, I’ll be happy with a good, clean run to close out the season, and then we’ll all start focusing on 2025.”
Practice for the season finale is set for Friday at 4:05 p.m. local time (7:05 Eastern Time), and qualifying will be held Saturday at 3:05 p.m. (6:05 p.m. Eastern) with TV coverage for both events on USA Network.
Sunday’s 312-lap, 312-mile race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 1 p.m. (3 p.m. Eastern) with NBC carrying the TV broadcast.
Stage breaks are planned for Laps 60 and 185.
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.
About Ford Performance
Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.
Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 100 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last eight decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.
