William Byron is headed again to the Championship 4 for the NASCAR Cup Collection championship however had a tough time celebrating Sunday evening at Martinsville Speedway.
Byron and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports crew took the ultimate switch spot when NASCAR penalized Christopher Bell. Bell was deemed to have ridden the wall on the ultimate lap, which was outlawed after Ross Chastain carried out the transfer in 2022.
On the end, Bell superior over Byron through a tiebreaker, however the penalty negated the transfer and he was taken from an 18th place end to twenty second.
Byron completed sixth.
“I don’t know what to assume,” Byron stated. “I’ve a tough time feeling completely satisfied on this state of affairs. We simply raced as arduous as we might and raced inside the guidelines and every part like that, so it’s what it’s at that time.
“We had been tied on factors, and like I stated, the wall experience is what it’s. We simply needed to struggle by means of that. I don’t know. I’m glad to race for a championship, that’s for positive.”
It took 27 minutes earlier than the choice was introduced. Byron and Bell each stayed on pit street with their groups because the end was reviewed. There have been crowds round each drivers to seize the second when one among them was given the information they might be racing for a championship.
“I’ve by no means been by means of something like that,” Byron stated. “There was positively some drama from that, for positive, as a result of I normally get to go dwelling by now. I don’t actually know what to consider all that, however grateful that NASCAR checked out it, that they’ve guidelines in place, and that’s what it’s.”
Byron thought it was clear what occurred. Though he has considered making such a transfer, he is aware of there’s a rule towards it.
The end was arrange because the No. 24 ran inside the highest 10 all afternoon and earned 15 stage factors, whereas Bell earned none and was buried within the pack due to a number of miscues. Within the remaining laps, Byron tried to hold onto a slim one-point benefit over Bell.
He additionally had wingmen behind him to assist the trigger. There have been three Chevrolet drivers stacked behind Byron, none of which made a go that may have taken some extent away.
“Nobody moved me they usually gave me room to sort of catch my automotive,” Byron stated. “They raced me arduous. I simply didn’t have sufficient rear tires left so I wanted all of the racetrack, and I used to be utilizing all of it.”
Byron stated nobody behind him lifted him so he might hold his place.
It’s the second straight yr he’ll seem within the Championship 4.
“I’m excited; I can’t wait to race for a championship subsequent week,” Byron stated. “I do know we’ll convey a bullet there. We had an superior automotive right this moment, obtained a bit of bit of injury, however I used to be actually pleased with it. I’m excited.”
