Cup Series: Byron dominates with clutch victory in Martinsville
- Sean McKean
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Written by Sean McKean
In a must-win situation, William Byron took his third and possibly most important victory of the season in Martinsville.
It was Byron’s second victory at the half-mile oval.
As it unfolded
William Byron led the way from pole as Ty Gibbs lost out on second to Kyle Larson.
The first caution for cause came out on Lap 28. Daniel Suarez received a tap from Bubba Wallace, sending the Trackhouse driver into a half-spin. Although Suarez never fully spun out, the caution was still called.
Michael McDowell led the way on Lap 33, having taken two tyres on the previous pit cycle. Byron nonetheless made quick work of him to take the lead back one lap later.
Byron held strong to take a decisive Stage 1 win. Joey Logano and Kyle Larson followed behind.
Stage 1 Results:
No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske) [Playoffs]
No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) [Playoffs]
No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 34 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske)
Byron led the way once again to begin Stage 2.
The first caution of Stage 2 didn’t come out until Lap 216, when Carson Hocevar went for a spin in Turn 2. He drove away undamaged.
Byron controlled the Lap 224 restart.
The caution came back out six laps later for a spin by Cole Custer in Turn 4. He was assisted by Josh Berry.
Byron controlled the next restart, but a loose wheel from Cody Ware brought the caution back out.
Byron once again led the way with 11 laps remaining in Stage 2. He held on to the stage’s end followed by Larson and Christopher Bell.
Stage 2 Results:
No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 34 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)
No. 88 - Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)
No. 43 - Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club)
Ryan Blaney began the final stage as leader on Lap 272.
Josh Berry brought the caution out only a few laps later, having been spun by both Bubba Wallace and Ryan Preece. He drove away without damage.
Denny Hamlin led the way this time on Lap 287, but Blaney managed to sneak back into the lead.
Towards the end of Lap 296, playoff driver Chase Briscoe retired from the race with an engine failure. Luckily, his Talladega victory guaranteed him a spot in the Championship 4.
30 laps later, worryingly, Briscoe’s teammate Denny Hamlin suffered an engine failure as well. With Christopher Bell still trying to race his way into the final round, alarm bells were ringing for Toyota.
Green flag pit stops began on Lap 374. In the midst of these, however, Erik Jones went for a spin on Lap 378.
Blaney again led the way on Lap 390.
On Lap 399, Carson Hocevar went for a spin in Turn 1 to bring out the caution yet again.
Blaney again led with only 96 laps remaining.
Byron had been hounding Blaney for many laps, and with 44 laps to go, the Daytona 500 champion made a huge lunge in Turn 1 to take the lead.
A caution came out with only 18 laps remaining for Carson Hocevar in Turn 3.
Byron and Blaney led the way with only 11 laps to go, with Byron coming out with the edge.
Byron held on to take a dominant, clutch victory.
Provisional Results:
No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) [Playoffs]
No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)
No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske) [Playoffs]
No. 34 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 21 - Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing)
No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)
No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 8 - Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing)
No. 88 - Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske)
No. 3 - Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing)
No. 41 - Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team)
No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)
No. 7 - Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports) +1 lap
No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing) +1 lap
No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club) +1 lap
No. 99 - Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing) +1 lap
No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports) +1 lap
No. 71 - Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports) +1 lap
No. 38 - Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports) +2 laps
No. 10 - Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing) +2 laps
No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak Motorsports) +2 laps
No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing) +3 laps
No. 17 - Chris Buescher (RFK Racing) +3 laps
No. 4 - Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports) +3 laps
No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports) +3 laps
No. 51 - Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing) +12 laps
No. 66 - Casey Mears (Garage 66) [DNF]
No. 43 - Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club) [DNF]
No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) [DNF] [Playoffs]
No. 35 - Riley Herbst (23XI Racing) [DNF]
No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) [DNF] [Playoffs]
After a surprisingly tame affair in Martinsville, the Championship 4 has been provisionally set. Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, William Byron and Kyle Larson will battle for the title in Phoenix.
Provisional Playoff Picture:
No. 11 - Denny Hamlin: [1 WIN; ADVANCED]
No. 19 - Chase Briscoe: [1 WIN; ADVANCED]
No. 24 - William Byron: [1 WIN; ADVANCED]
No. 5 - Kyle Larson: +7
PLAYOFF CUT-LINE
No. 20 - Christopher Bell: -7
No. 22 - Joey Logano: -49
No. 12 - Ryan Blaney: -57
No. 9 - Chase Elliott: -63
