William Byron Win at Watkins Glen: NASCAR legend William Byron made history at Watkins Glen International in New York. On Sunday, he won his first NASCAR Cup Series road course race, Go Bowling at The Glen. This was Charlotte’s 25-year-old driver’s best win. He won five times this season, the most in his six years in NASCAR’s premier series.
Byron won the championship by 2.632 seconds in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet over Denny Hamlin. The race was spectacular for Byron. He led 66 of 90 lapsa lot! His margin over the other racers keeps growing in the remaining ten laps. It was wonderful to see him dominating before the race.
Byron remarked, “It feels awesome, but I have to give a big shoutout to the race team supporting me.” We worked hard for a long time to win my first road race. He said Max Papis and the crew helped him win, and he practiced on iRacing and a new simulator at home.
Byron’s playoff win is significant and timely. He stated the club had a terrible summer but was working hard for the playoffs. The team’s weekend performance was “perfect.”
Hamlin’s second-place finish keeps him in the regular season championship race. He sits 39 points behind his teammate Martin Truex Jr. heading into the season’s last race at Daytona next week. Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing, A.J. Allmendinger of Kaulig Racing, and Ty Gibbs of JGR finished fifth.
Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing did well and is 16th in points. This might be his first Playoff appearance. Wallace admitted he’s terrible at road racing, but he finished 12th. This was his best road course finish this season. He leads Gibbs by 32 points and Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suárez by 43.
The best clubs still trying to make the playoffs had a rough day. Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports started the race 80 points behind Wallace. He made things worse by messing up the fuel. Thus, he ran out of gas with 23 laps left. Due to the miscalculation, he dropped from 21st to 32nd.
Trackhouse Racing’s Suárez had issues. An error at Watkins Glen’s “bus stop” caused him to smash into the wall after five laps. After the accident, he dropped from 24th to 22nd. Before the season finale in Daytona, he was 43 points below the top 16.
Gibbs advanced to fifth place, bringing him closer to the Playoffs. He needs to win to catch Wallace by 32 points.
The regular season concludes Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway with the Coke Zero Sugar 400. This race will select the 16 2023 Playoff drivers. Race winner Austin Dillon won last year. In February, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the DAYTONA 500.
The Glen race felt like a mini-season. The event had its highest and lowest points and close differences defining the sport. With the playoffs nearing, things are heating up. Drivers are excited for the Daytona 500.
Our Reader’s Queries
Has William Byron ever won a NASCAR race?
With 10 career wins under his belt, the most recent being at Texas Motor Speedway in September 2023, Byron is no stranger to the NASCAR Cup Series. He first tasted victory in the series by taking home the top spot at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in August 2020 at Daytona International Speedway.
Who has won the most races at Watkins Glen?
Hendrick Motorsports has dominated the NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen International, securing 10 wins in total. The team’s impressive track record includes four victories by Jeff Gordon in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2001, two wins by Chase Elliott in 2018 and 2019, and two more by Kyle Larson in 2021 and 2022. Ricky Rudd also contributed to the team’s success with a win in 1990, as did Tim Richmond in 1986. Hendrick Motorsports’ impressive performance at Watkins Glen International is a testament to their skill and dedication on the track.
How many races has William Byron won in 2023?
Byron emerged victorious at Las Vegas, Phoenix, Darlington, Atlanta, Watkins Glen, and Texas. He clinched four of his six wins in the initial 19 races of the 2023 NASCAR season, while the remaining two came in the subsequent 17 events.
When did NASCAR start racing at Watkins Glen?
Since 1986, Watkins Glen has been the annual host of the Cup Series, except for 2020 when the race was moved to Daytona International Speedway’s road course due to COVID. NASCAR’s top series also previously held races at Watkins Glen in 1957, 1964, and 1965.