Byron Shines at Homestead: William Byron showcased his skills at Homestead-Miami Speedway, driving his No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to a commendable fourth-place finish in the Round of 8’s second race. This result provides Byron with a 30-point cushion above the projected cutline as he eyes the Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway.
Throughout the 400-mile race in Miami, Byron’s car displayed excellent short-run speed but faced challenges on the long run. He briefly led during the first stage but slid back to fourth as the field cycled through green-flag pit stops, ultimately finishing the stage in that position. Stage two witnessed a similar pattern, but careful tire management during a longer green-flag run allowed Byron to advance to the second position as the stage concluded.
Late in the race, various Round of 8 contenders encountered setbacks, providing an opportunity for Byron’s pit crew to shine. During the final pit stop, they executed a lightning-quick 9.91-second stop, allowing him to regain the lead from second place for the race’s final restart. Although he was ultimately passed for the lead by Christopher Bell with 16 laps remaining, Byron’s fourth-place finish positions his team favorably for the upcoming Martinsville race. This marks the sixth consecutive top-10 finish for his team, emphasizing their consistency and skill.
Byron commented on his performance, stating, “We just didnt have the turn in our car to go into a run, so we just struggled there to fire off. I was doing all I could to air-block; move my line around and try to take his air, but it just wasnt enough. I couldnt get through the middle well enough to maintain pace.”
“Our No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet was really solid all day. We just needed more there at the end, but we had good execution, good pit stops and put ourselves in position to win.”
Chase Elliott, despite facing challenges in the first two segments, mounted a comeback to finish in the top 15. The No. 9 Hooters Chevrolet initially struggled to keep pace with the front-runners in the opening stages. However, a well-timed caution on lap 214 provided Elliott with the opportunity to regain his position on the lead lap. Subsequent quick yellow flags allowed the No. 9 team to pit for fresh tires, aligning with the rest of the field’s strategy and culminating in a 15th-place finish.
The No. 9 team remains in contention for the owner’s championship heading into Martinsville, albeit facing a significant 77-point deficit below the elimination line. To advance, they must secure a victory in the upcoming race, aiming to secure another grandfather clock and a slot in the Championship 4 for the owner’s title in Phoenix.
Alex Bowman, starting 12th in the No. 48 Ally Chevy, encountered a pit road mishap during the first cycle of green-flag stops, costing valuable time and track position. Crew chief Blake Harris continually worked on the car’s balance throughout stage two and the beginning of the final segment to regain the lost lap. Following a series of wave-around maneuvers after the lap 214 caution flag, a subsequent incident facilitated Bowman’s return to the lead lap. By the race’s conclusion, he had moved into 19th place, marking his first appearance at the 1.5-mile track in the Next Gen race car.
Despite leading 96 laps during the race, Kyle Larson ultimately finished in 34th place. Larson secured a stage one victory with 96 laps led but encountered handling issues during stage two, losing two positions toward the end of the segment. While running in second place during the final stage, Larson headed to pit road when race leader Ryan Blaney did the same. In an attempt to avoid collision with Blaney, Larson struck the sand barrels at the entrance to pit road, ending his race. However, it’s worth noting that the No. 5 team and Larson have already secured their spot in the Championship 4, both for the driver and owner’s title.
Larson expressed his frustration regarding the incident, stating, “I was just trying to push it as much as I could. He (Ryan Blaney) had a great car and I felt like if he was to come off pit road the leader, he was going to end up winning the race or beating me. I was just trying to maximize my pit-in, and honestly, I felt like I was doing a really good job. I just didnt anticipate him slowing down as much as he did.”
Despite the setback, the team remains optimistic and prepared to bounce back at the upcoming race in Martinsville.
The next event on the Cup Series calendar is set to take place at Martinsville, Virginia, for the penultimate race of the 2023 season. Racing enthusiasts can catch all the action from “The Paperclip” on Sunday, October 29, at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, NBC Sports App, MRN Radio, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
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Where is William Byron’s hometown?
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Byron was the younger of two siblings.
