William Byron on Denny Hamlin became a focal point after Sunday’s dramatic Cup Series championship finale at Phoenix Raceway, where Byron’s unexpected crash influenced the outcome and ended Hamlin’s hopes for a title. The Hendrick Motorsports driver publicly expressed respect and sympathy for Hamlin, explaining the confusion that led to his late-race wreck and the consequential caution.
Byron Discusses Impact on Hamlin’s Championship Bid
Denny Hamlin dominated much of the championship race by leading for 208 laps and posting the fastest lap, establishing himself as the front-runner on multiple restarts. With seven different stints leading the race, Hamlin was seen as a top contender for the title until the closing moments.
The race’s trajectory shifted dramatically with just three laps remaining due to Byron’s tire issue. As Hamlin entered the pits for four fresh tires, another contender, Kyle Larson, exited with just two new tires, altering the lineup. This pit sequence left Hamlin behind in the fifth row and placed him on the less advantageous bottom lane for the overtime restart.
Kyle Larson capitalized on the situation, outperforming all fellow title contenders and securing his inaugural Cup Series championship in the Next Gen Era. In the aftermath, Byron spoke with NBC Sports to relay his apologies to Hamlin regarding the late caution that changed the race’s dynamic.
“Yeah, it stinks, right?….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. Yeah, you just feel like a passenger. It sucks,” he said.
After the event, Byron continued extending apologies and recognized Hamlin’s efforts, while his own finish placed him 33rd in the order. Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney ultimately took the checkered flag after 319 intense laps, and Byron lamented how his second consecutive front row start at Phoenix ended in misfortune.
Byron Breaks Down His Tire Failure
William Byron provided more insight into his experience behind the wheel as his tire began to fail. He shared his mindset during those final laps and the regret over how things unraveled near the finish.
“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. I hate that,” he said via aforementioned source.
The incident not only changed Byron’s race outcome but directly influenced the championship standings, as Hamlin’s disadvantage on the restart gave Larson the edge he needed. Byron’s candidness about the tire failure underlines the unpredictability of the sport and the high stakes that accompany each decision on the track.
The aftermath at Phoenix Raceway leaves lasting questions about strategy and chance, especially as Byron, Hamlin, and other contenders reflect on circumstances beyond their control. The race result further cements Kyle Larson’s status in the Next Gen Era, while also highlighting the emotional weight of setbacks for drivers like Denny Hamlin and William Byron.
