William Byron, a key contender in the William Byron NASCAR Cup Championship, saw his title hopes vanish in dramatic fashion late in Sunday’s championship race at Phoenix Raceway. With just three laps remaining, a right-side tire failure sent Byron’s No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet into the wall, creating a pivotal caution that shifted the dynamics for fellow front-runner Denny Hamlin and altered the outcome for multiple drivers in the championship battle.
For much of the race, Byron fiercely competed with Hamlin, who carried not just ambitions for his first NASCAR Cup title but also personal hopes to celebrate in front of his terminally ill father. Byron’s tire failure and resulting crash brought out a late caution, disrupting Hamlin’s dominating performance and effectively resetting the fight for the championship over the final laps.
Unexpected End as Larson Claims Title, Hamlin’s Dream Deferred
The sudden caution led to a two-lap shootout that saw Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson emerge as the eventual Cup champion, finishing third overall, three places ahead of Hamlin. Ryan Blaney, driving the Menards/Dutch Boy Ford for Team Penske and not a member of the Championship 4, seized victory in the race itself, highlighting how unpredictable NASCAR’s playoff finale can become.
Hamlin, after leading an impressive 208 of 319 laps, was left agonizingly close to securing his first Cup crown, ultimately falling about 40 seconds short of the title. Byron, aiming for his inaugural series championship, ended up 33rd in the 38-car field, a finish that did not reflect the strength of his earlier performance.
I’m just super-bummed that it was a caution, obviously, and I hate that. I hate it for Denny. I hate it for the 11 team. He was on his way to it,
— William Byron, Driver
Expressing regret over the consequence of his crash, Byron added:
And I obviously do not want to cause a caution,
and continued,
So if I had known what tire it was or known that a tire was going down before I got to the corner, I would’ve done something different. But yeah, you just feel like a passenger. It sucks.
— William Byron, Driver
Byron Reflects on Setback and Shares Support for Teammate’s Victory
Despite the disappointing end, Byron congratulated his teammate and team owner for their achievement, noting the resilience of Hendrick Motorsports during the final races of the season.
I’m happy for Kyle, happy for Mr. Hendrick. They deserve it.
— William Byron, Driver
Byron gave insight into the critical moments before his tire failed, describing his attempt to finish the race:
I’m just thinking, ‘Okay, let me get to the end.’ And I felt something funny off of [Turn] 2 and thought it might be a flat. I thought at the time, ‘If it’s left rear you can kind of get it back, but it just went straight into 3. It laid down on the right rear.
— William Byron, Driver
Emphasizing the team’s strong close to the year, Byron said:
We brought our best towards the end of the playoffs, for sure. The win last week [at Martinsville, Virginia] was great, and today was really good, too. I thought we were kind of right there, but not quite enough. But just thanks and thanks to Chevrolet, thanks to all of our partners. It’s been an awesome year. Wish we could have finished it off better, but we’ll get going for next year.
— William Byron, Driver
Other Contenders and Surprises From the Finale
While the focus remained on Byron, Hamlin, and Larson, the final moments of the race also featured Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe, a Championship 4 contender who quietly navigated the unpredictable closing laps. Starting 12th, Briscoe finished 18th after rallying through the field multiple times. Briscoe explained,
“I felt like we were good enough. We came from the front to the back two or three different times and just had a really good Bass Pro Shops Toyota. Just wish we could have been on an even playing field at some point. So that’s just part of it. Obviously thankful for the opportunity. Just so excited to be at Joe Gibbs Racing and be able to compete for wins and compete for championships. Hate that one of us didn’t get it.”
Looking ahead with optimism, Briscoe commented:
We’re starting on an even playing field next year and we’ll see if we can be a little bit better. I certainly think we can get back here. We obviously have the speed. It’s just a matter of putting everything together.
— Chase Briscoe, Driver
Meanwhile, Aric Almirola reflected on his final NASCAR season, while Team Penske made a statement with Blaney’s race win as the only non-Championship 4 driver at the top, reminding fans of the unpredictability of motorsports.
Rick Hendrick and Brittany Force Score Wins Beyond Cup
Rick Hendrick’s influence stretched further than Phoenix on Sunday, as he celebrated more success elsewhere in motorsports. Brittany Force, piloting a Top Fuel dragster supported by Hendrickcars.com, secured a victory at the Nevada Nationals held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In other classes, John Force Racing’s Austin Prock finished runner-up in Funny Car behind Matt Hagan. In Pro Stock, Hendrick’s marketing partner Greg Anderson reached the semifinals, adding to a prosperous weekend for teams connected to Hendrick Motorsports.
Looking Ahead After a Dramatic Conclusion
William Byron’s blown tire may have denied him a shot at the William Byron NASCAR Cup Championship, but his sportsmanship and determination remain evident. Hamlin’s heartbreak, Larson’s triumph, and Briscoe’s resilience all contributed to a fiercely contested finale. As teams regroup for next season, attention now shifts to how drivers and organizations such as Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske analyze the dramatic turn of events and prepare for another campaign of high-stakes Cup racing.
