William Byron Shocks Racing World: William Byron scored a surprising victory in a stunning twist at the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway, marking a historic 300th Cup Series win for Hendrick Motorsports. The race didn’t go as expected, with a clever strategy inspired by Denny Hamlin ultimately making the difference.
For much of the race, it looked like Kyle Larson would lead Hendrick Motorsports to their 300th victory. But fate had other plans when a crash involving J. J. Yeley turned the race upside down with just 25 laps to go. This set the stage for an incredible comeback.
As Bubba Wallace and Chase Briscoe battled for the lead during the final restart, William Byron seized his moment. With only six laps left, Byron executed a daring three-wide pass to take the lead and secure the win. This victory made him the first playoff driver to advance to the Round of 8.
The pit strategy employed by Byron’s crew chief, Rudy Fugle, made this win even more remarkable. After the Yeley wreck, Fugle chose to keep Byron on the track, putting trust in his driver’s hands. This decision had a secret behind it, one that Fugle openly discussed after the race.
In a post-race media conference, Fugle revealed that he took inspiration from Denny Hamlin’s pit strategy, which involved taking two fresh tires to maintain a good track position. Fugle’s choice meant that Byron would have old tires but gain positions and move to the front of the field, setting the stage for the dramatic laps leading to victory.
When asked about putting faith in William’s hands, Fugle said, “Yeah, at that point in the race, I think that’s your best play with where we were. I think we were seventh or eighth. So if we pit with the majority of them, we’re going to be 18th or 20th. And it’s an okay call to pit if you’re going to be 10th or 11th. I think the 11 car was the first one on two rights, and he got close to the front.”
“But it worked out,” he added. “And it was a fairly easy call. We were just hoping with that long a laps on tires that everything was going to go okay and the air was going to stay in them and everything, so that was good.”
The post-race celebration was a testament to Hendrick Motorsports‘ excellence. Team owner Rick Hendrick shared his thoughts on this significant milestone, praising the team’s performance and Kyle Larson’s driving skills. He said, “Kyle was so strong I thought he’d just drive away. But Bubba ran him pretty hard there, and I guess he could have lifted a little bit, Kyle could have That’s what Larson does. That’s what I love about him. He’s driving the wheels off of every lap, and so real proud of him.”
Hendrick also commended William Byron’s success, highlighting his six wins in the current season and the team’s determination to finish the year strong. But William Byron has six wins this year and seeing Chase (Elliott) up in the top-10 top-five in the last two three races, that’s a good sign for you know. Finishing the year strong, winning the race. So yeah, I’d say I was hot When I got off the box and then I thought my knees were weak after watching ”
Reflecting on 300 wins, Hendrick confessed that he never thought they would reach this milestone. He mentioned the importance of staying competitive every week, a philosophy he has upheld since his early racing days. With the current lineup and dedicated team members, Hendrick expressed his belief that Hendrick Motorsports will continue to win many more races.
In a race filled with unexpected twists and turns, William Byron and Hendrick Motorsports emerged victorious, marking a historic milestone in NASCAR. Byron’s daring move and Fugle’s strategic risk will be critical factors in this memorable win. As Hendrick Motorsports celebrates their 300th victory, they are poised for even more success in the seasons to come.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Are William Byron and Erin Blaney still together?
Erin and William have been an item since February 2020, and the trio is at ease with the arrangement. They even find humor in it, as evidenced by Byron’s recent quip on the NBC broadcast after Blaney’s victory at Martinsville: “Congrats to Ryan. Really happy for him, brother-in-law.”
Did William Byron graduate from Liberty University?
Byron’s personal life began in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was born as the younger of two siblings. His parents, Bill and Dana Byron, raised him alongside his sister Kathryn. Byron completed his education at Charlotte Country Day School, while also taking online classes through sponsor Liberty University. He successfully graduated in May 2016, marking the end of his academic journey.
What make of car does William Byron drive?
William is a full-time driver for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series, where he pilots the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. He’s also known to compete in select races in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series.
Is William Byron still racing?
As the driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, William Byron has been racing for six seasons now. He has achieved 10 career victories, with his most recent win taking place in September 2023 at Texas Motor Speedway.
