William Byron’s championship hopes suffered a devastating blow during the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where a late-race collision abruptly ended his run in the NASCAR Playoffs. The William Byron Las Vegas crash occurred with only 31 laps left, derailing one of the year’s top contenders and casting doubt on his path to the Championship 4.
The incident unfolded after fellow playoff driver Ryan Blaney encountered a tire issue and scraped the wall nine laps before the end of the first stage. As tensions mounted late in the Round of 8 contest, Byron, positioned third in the playoff standings after an 11th-place finish at the Charlotte Roval just days earlier, looked poised for a strong outcome. He had already logged 55 laps led and was running second when misfortune struck.
Unexpected Pit Entry Sets Off Major Wreck
The critical accident happened as Ty Dillon, slowing to enter pit road, crossed Byron’s path. Unaware of Dillon’s intentions, Byron struck the Kaulig Racing driver’s Chevrolet at high speed, sending both vehicles spinning. Debris was scattered, and broken parts flew across the Las Vegas track, as captured by the in-car camera footage. Byron later shared his confusion and frustration regarding the lack of warning about Dillon’s pit entry, referencing intense sunlight and limited visibility as complicating factors.
I never saw him wave. I didn’t see any indication he was pitting, and I thought the cycle was fully over. Nobody said anything to my spotter, from what I know. I had zero idea. Everyone’s been wrapping the paint around the corner, and that’s what I was doing to have a good lap,
— William Byron, Driver
Dillon, for his part, insisted his spotter had communicated the pit stop to Byron’s team. However, the communication did not reach Byron in time to prevent the collision. Byron had been monitoring Dillon ahead, assuming a missed turn was the issue, yet found himself blindsided as Dillon slowed for pit entry. The impact launched Byron’s No. 24 HMS Chevrolet across the field and into a pit stall, while Dillon’s car was left stationary on the racing line. The shocking turn of events cut Byron’s day short, making him the second playoff driver unable to finish the Round of 8 race.
Agony and Unanswered Questions for Byron After the Crash
I’m just devastated. I had no indication. Obviously, I wouldn’t have run full speed into the back of him. We were right there [for the win] with [Larson]. I got loose and lost the lead. Just kind of pacing it. Just as good as we were, and the race was going, for random [stuff] to happen like that, it just sucks. I can’t believe it. During the cycle, you’re anticipating guys pitting. It just sucks,
— William Byron, Driver
With his No. 24 Chevrolet destroyed and forced into a DNF, Byron’s playoff dreams now hang in the balance. The once-promising bid for automatic advancement to the Championship 4 has been replaced with the reality that he is now 15 points beneath the cut line. Intense frustration and disappointment were evident as Byron reflected on how close he had been to racing alongside Larson for the win before the unexpected crash.
A Precarious Path Ahead in the Playoff Chase
The harsh outcome at Las Vegas means Byron’s route to the Championship 4 must now pass through Talladega and Martinsville, where his fate remains uncertain. The memory of a fiercely contested battle with Christopher Bell at Martinsville last season offers little reassurance, as Byron faces an even more precarious position this year. With the superspeedway unpredictability of Talladega looming, many anticipate Byron may need to lay everything on the line in the final Round of 8 race at Martinsville to keep his title hopes alive.
For both fans and competitors, the William Byron Las Vegas crash is a dramatic reminder of the thin margin for error in NASCAR’s playoff system and how quickly fortunes can change. Such heartbreak has now put one of the season’s leading drivers on the edge, with his fate set to be decided in the grueling closing races of the playoff schedule.
BYRON WRECKS OUT‼️
A brutal end to great day for William Byron and the No. 24 💔 #NASCARPlayoffs
📺: @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/RevAZilIQI
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 13, 2025
