NASCAR’s a tough climb, and the Xfinity Series often serves as the proving ground for those gunning for Cup glory. Shane van Gisbergen is a prime example. After tearing up Xfinity, he stormed into the 2025 Chicago Street Race, sweeping both Xfinity and Cup events from the pole and leading chunks of laps with ice-cold composure.

Daniel Suárez followed a similar path, leveraging his 2016 Xfinity title and Rookie honors into Cup wins at Sonoma in 2022 and Atlanta in 2024. These drivers show how Xfinity success can launch a career to Sundays, but it’s not just talent that gets you there. Money is the real gatekeeper.

Jeb Burton’s story hits different. He’s got the skills, the wins, and the heart, but he’s stuck in the Xfinity grind, dreaming of Cup while sponsorship woes keep him grounded.

Jeb Burton’s sponsorship struggles

In a recent interview, Jeb Burton laid it bare: “People ask me all the time, ‘Do I want to be in the Cup Series someday?’ Yes, but right now, the barrier isn’t talent; it’s sponsorship. I’ve shown I can drive. I’ve carved out a place with Jordan Anderson. We’ve built that team from the ground up. We’ve had wins. We’ve improved.”

Burton’s been a rock at Jordan Anderson Racing, turning a scrappy outfit into a contender with steady gains. His 2021 Talladega Xfinity win and consistent top-10s prove he’s got the chops, but funding has been his kryptonite. Back in 2015, a sponsor bailed, killing his Truck season and stalling his momentum, a pattern that’s haunted him since.

“I still want to make it to Sunday one day. That day won’t come overnight, but the real hardship is the career disruption—losing sponsors, shifting opportunities. These days, purses are better, and Cup teams have more financial cushion—but that only helps if you’re already in,” Burton said.

NASCAR’s purse payouts have grown, with Forbes noting a 20% bump in Cup purses since 2020, thanks to charters and media deals. But for Xfinity and Truck drivers, it’s a different story. Teams fold midseason, and drivers like Burton juggle part-time rides when sponsors ghost. His early Cup stints with ThorSport and BK Racing fizzled without steady backing, forcing him to rebuild in Xfinity.

“I hope to race for another decade. I’m 33, so I haven’t given up on my dream. But I’ll tell you, it would have been easier if I were coming up now, with current changes in the sport,” Burton added.

Charters and media cash have stabilized Cup teams, but Xfinity is still a financial tightrope. Burton’s hinting at the sport’s evolution, with $7.7 billion in TV deals and better incentives, but for drivers outside the Cup bubble, it’s a grind. His 2013 Truck win and Xfinity progress haven’t unlocked the sponsorship vault, leaving his Cup dream on hold.

Jeb’s financial fight mirrors his cousin Harrison Burton’s own bumpy road.

Harrison Burton’s Xfinity exit

Harrison is parting ways with AM Racing after one Xfinity season, despite lifting the team into the 2025 playoffs. “I want to thank AM Racing, Tim Self, and Wade Moore for the opportunity and trust at a pivotal moment in my career after I lost my Cup seat entering 2025,”

Harrison said on Wednesday. “From day one, the group’s commitment and preparation helped us deliver tangible progress. So far, we have team-record top-five and top-ten results and the organization’s first trip to the Xfinity Series Playoffs. I’m proud of how we show up each week, compete at the highest level, and finish strong.”

Harrison’s Cup run with Wood Brothers from 2022 to 2024 was rough, with two top-fives and six top-10s in three years, though his 2024 Daytona upset punched his playoff ticket. But the team moved on, and Harrison landed at AM Racing, pushing them from a top-30 outfit to 12th in points.

“I’m also grateful for the people who made this possible: our crew members, engineers, office staff, partners, and the fans who have our backs everywhere we race. This season reminded me why I love competing: the teamwork, the focus, and the fight. I’m super excited about the next chapter and will announce my plans at a future date,” he said. Like Jeb, Harrison has faced sponsorship swings, his Cup exit tied to funding gaps despite that Daytona win.

The Burtons’ stories are two sides of the same coin. Jeb is stuck in Xfinity, chasing Cup with thin finances, while Harrison is backtracking to Xfinity after a Cup stint that couldn’t secure the cash to stay. Both show how NASCAR’s money game, where a $500,000 sponsor can make or break a season, keeps talent on the sidelines even when the skill and determination are there.