Byron Phoenix Bound: William Byron secured the last spot in the Championship 4 field in a challenging race at Martinsville. The Hendrick Motorsports driver, who had a strong regular season, faced possible elimination going into the Cup race.
Byron initially had a comfortable 30-point cushion above the cutline, but a disappointing qualifying session put his chances at risk.
The NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 race took place in scorching conditions, adding to the challenges for the drivers. Byron, behind the wheel of his No. 24 Chevrolet, struggled in traffic and spent much of the race outside the top 15.
Despite the tough conditions, he managed to secure a 13th-place finish, which was enough to clinch the final spot in the Championship 4 field.
In a post-race interview with RACER, William Byron began by congratulating the race winner, Ryan Blaney. He expressed his frustration during the race and his relief at securing the spot in the Championship 4.
“I’ve never been so mad in a race car, I’ve never wanted to get out so much, I’ve never been so frustrated at the car and how loose I was, how tight I was in spots. I just had no grip. We just really deserve it. We deserve to go to Phoenix. It’s nice to see it pay off.”
The 25-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver also discussed the challenges of racing in the scorching heat at Martinsville.
“With 50, 60 to go, it was so blurry inside the car, and I just wanted to pull in, but you’re not going to do that. I was going to have a failure or do something first.”
He acknowledged the tough battle he faced during the race, especially when running in 21st place.
“I didn’t have the feeling in the car that I wanted. I knew it was going to be a battle. But when you get in those battles… and when you’re running 21st, it’s not fun back there. It was really tough.”
William Byron expressed his gratitude to his team and crew chief Rudy Fugle, emphasizing that racing is his dream and that he loves what he does.
“I’m just super thankful for my team. They gave me the opportunity… This is my dream. I love to race cars, I didn’t grow up doing it, but I love what I do, and they believe in me.”
All eyes are now on Phoenix, where William Byron, alongside Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney, will compete for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
ALSO READ: William Byron Texas Triumph: Racing Success and Academic Excellence
