During the dramatic conclusion of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway, William Byron addressed his feelings and the difficult events that unfolded in a climactic pit road interview. The William Byron pit road interview revealed his disappointment and the emotional toll of a late-race tire issue that affected multiple contenders.
Byron Details Late-Race Tire Struggles and Impact
When asked if there was anything unusual about his run with the tire, William Byron responded with clear frustration, stating,
“I don’t know all the details. Yeah, I’m just super bummed that it was a caution obviously. I hate that. Hate it for Denny. I hate it for the 11 team.”
— William Byron, Driver. He expressed happiness for other competitors, saying,
“I’m happy for Kyle, for Mr. Hendrick, they deserve it. Yeah, it stinks, right? I don’t know, three laps to go, I’m thinking, Let me get to the end. I felt something funny off of two, thought it might be a flat. I thought at the time if it’s left rear, you can kind of get back. It just went straight into three. Laid down on the right rear, went straight.”
— William Byron, Driver. The late spin was a devastating moment, leaving Byron feeling helpless in the car during those crucial laps.
He added, “I hate that.” — William Byron, Driver. Byron explained that as the incident happened, he felt more like a passenger as the car lost control. Despite the challenges, he recognized the team’s strong performance up until that point and acknowledged their potential in the championship race.
Team Resilience Shines in the Face of Adversity
Byron reflected on his team’s tenacity over the closing rounds of the Playoffs, sharing,
“Yeah, we brought our best towards the end of the Playoffs, for sure. The win last week was great. Today was really good, too. I thought we were kind of right there, but not quite enough.”
— William Byron, Driver. He went on to thank key sponsors Axalta and Chevrolet and credited all their partners for an impressive season, despite the disappointment of not securing the championship.
He also expressed regret over the caution’s consequences, emphasizing his respect for Denny Hamlin and the 11 team:
“I mean, Denny was on his way to it. I hate that. There’s a lot of respect there. I obviously do not want to cause a caution. If I had known what tire it was, known that a tire was going down before I got to the corner, I would have done something different.”
— William Byron, Driver. Byron concluded,
“Yeah, you just feel like a passenger, it sucks.”
— William Byron, Driver. His comments highlighted the mix of pride in his team’s efforts and frustration with how circumstances unfolded.
Looking Ahead While Processing the Pain
In closing, William Byron noted the need to regroup and focus on the upcoming season, signaling resilience despite heartbreak at Phoenix Raceway. The William Byron pit road interview encapsulates the highs and lows of racing at the highest level, underscored by the involvement of key entities like Chevy, Axalta, Hendrick, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle. NASCAR fans can expect Byron and his team to return motivated, drawing on both the pain of defeat and the lessons of this year’s intense Playoffs run as they prepare for what lies ahead.
