Harrison Burton will move to Sam Hunt Racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for 2026, the team announced Oct. 25.
He’ll pair with Dean Thompson, who also returns after his maiden season with the team.
Thompson remains in the No. 26, while Burton moves to the No. 24.
“It’s extremely fulfilling for me to not only see SHR’s on-track growth, but to witness the organization’s culture continue to blossom,” Sam Hunt, SHR owner, said in a team release. We have created a competitive environment that attracts good people, and I believe the human element is the most important component to building a successful race team.
“I couldn’t be prouder of Dean’s maturity, humility, and work ethic this year. His on-track success is a direct result of his growth as a person, and his buy-in to wanting not only himself, but this entire organization to succeed. He has more than earned his spot within this team and this garage.
“Bringing Harrison in full-time is another major step in this team’s growth process, and I couldn’t be more excited to have him. He not only brings a new level of experience to SHR but is the perfect fit for our team’s culture and vision. I am grateful to everyone involved and am ready to get to work on our next step.”
The move returns SHR to two full-time cars after fielding the No. 24 part time since 2024. It’s the first time the organization has had its two full-time cars piloted by the same driver for the entire season; in 2023, the No. 24 was driven by a variety of competitors.
In 2025, Burton has two top fives and top 10s with AM Racing, his first season in the series since 2021.
Thompson, meanwhile, has snagged one top five and seven top 10s in his first full season in the series with the team, following a pair of starts in the 2024 season for SHR.
Kris Bowen and Brian Gainey will remain the crew chiefs of the Nos. 26 and 24, respectively.
AM has not yet announced a replacement for Burton.
Kevin Rutherford is the executive editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2025 after being the managing editor since 2015, and serving on the editing staff since 2013.
At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.