By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Each week, Kickin’ The Tires will highlight the 20th-place finisher from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Standing as the middleman in weekends with 40-car fields, there is sure to be a story behind each one.
For the series-leading fifth time in 2018, William Byron came home 20th in his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
The day wasn’t all bad for the Cup Series rookie, who started eighth and ran up front throughout Sunday’s 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Similar to the April event at the 2.66-mile track, Byron spent time out front, this time leading five laps while Stewart-Haas Racing’s foursome was pushed mid-pack following pit stops.
“We were fortunate to lead some laps when we got the track position,” Byron said. “I just couldn’t get enough guys to work with me. Hopefully, next year will be different with the rookie stripes off. Other than that, I thought our day was good.”
Finishing the stages 17th and 14th, Byron was in good position through pit strategy to claim the lead, battling Brad Keselowski and others for the top spot.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo8GENBjrYl/?taken-by=williambyron
By lap 142, however, Byron was down to 24th and was out of focus until three laps to go. This was when Hendrick teammate Alex Bowman spun in Turn 4, collecting JJ Yeley and Byron in the accident.
Byron continued without significant damage, only losing all his track position for the final overtime restart.
“My goal was really to survive,” he said. “We got the car better handling-wise – handling was pretty important – and then from there we were kind of just trying to fight for track position.”
Criss-crossing through the last-lap crash in Turn 1, Byron jumped to 20th spot.
“I was able to bring it home,” he concluded.
Byron next heads to Kansas Speedway, a track he failed to finish in the spring after suffering a mega-hit in Turn 4 late in the race.
List of 20th-Place Finishers So Far in 2018
Daytona: Gray Gaulding
Atlanta: Alex Bowman
Las Vegas: Trevor Bayne
ISM: Trevor Bayne (2)
Auto Club: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Martinsville: William Byron
Texas: Gray Gaulding(2)
Bristol: Landon Cassill
Richmond: Ty Dillon
Talladega: DJ Kennington
Dover: Chris Buescher
Kansas: Michael McDowell
Charlotte: Kasey Kahne
Pocono: Clint Bowyer
Michigan: Jimmie Johnson
Sonoma: Kasey Kahne(2)
Chicagoland: William Byron(2)
Daytona: Trevor Bayne(3)
Kentucky: William Byron(3)
New Hampshire: Chris Buescher(2)
Pocono: Jamie McMurray
Watkins Glen: Chris Buescher (3)
Michigan: Chris Buescher (4)
Bristol: Kyle Busch
Darlington: Michael McDowell (2)
Indianapolis: Regan Smith
Las Vegas: Ross Chastain
Richmond: William Byron (4)
Charlotte ROVAL: Cole Whitt
Dover: Matt Kenseth
Talladega: William Byron (5)
Mid-Pack With Zach: William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports
By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Each week, Kickin’ The Tires will highlight the 20th-place finisher from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Standing as the middleman in weekends with 40-car fields, there is sure to be a story behind each one.
For the series-leading fifth time in 2018, William Byron came home 20th in his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
The day wasn’t all bad for the Cup Series rookie, who started eighth and ran up front throughout Sunday’s 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Similar to the April event at the 2.66-mile track, Byron spent time out front, this time leading five laps while Stewart-Haas Racing’s foursome was pushed mid-pack following pit stops.
“We were fortunate to lead some laps when we got the track position,” Byron said. “I just couldn’t get enough guys to work with me. Hopefully, next year will be different with the rookie stripes off. Other than that, I thought our day was good.”
Finishing the stages 17th and 14th, Byron was in good position through pit strategy to claim the lead, battling Brad Keselowski and others for the top spot.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo8GENBjrYl/?taken-by=williambyron
By lap 142, however, Byron was down to 24th and was out of focus until three laps to go. This was when Hendrick teammate Alex Bowman spun in Turn 4, collecting JJ Yeley and Byron in the accident.
Byron continued without significant damage, only losing all his track position for the final overtime restart.
“My goal was really to survive,” he said. “We got the car better handling-wise – handling was pretty important – and then from there we were kind of just trying to fight for track position.”
Criss-crossing through the last-lap crash in Turn 1, Byron jumped to 20th spot.
“I was able to bring it home,” he concluded.
Byron next heads to Kansas Speedway, a track he failed to finish in the spring after suffering a mega-hit in Turn 4 late in the race.
List of 20th-Place Finishers So Far in 2018
Daytona: Gray Gaulding
Atlanta: Alex Bowman
Las Vegas: Trevor Bayne
ISM: Trevor Bayne (2)
Auto Club: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Martinsville: William Byron
Texas: Gray Gaulding(2)
Bristol: Landon Cassill
Richmond: Ty Dillon
Talladega: DJ Kennington
Dover: Chris Buescher
Kansas: Michael McDowell
Charlotte: Kasey Kahne
Pocono: Clint Bowyer
Michigan: Jimmie Johnson
Sonoma: Kasey Kahne(2)
Chicagoland: William Byron(2)
Daytona: Trevor Bayne(3)
Kentucky: William Byron(3)
New Hampshire: Chris Buescher(2)
Pocono: Jamie McMurray
Watkins Glen: Chris Buescher (3)
Michigan: Chris Buescher (4)
Bristol: Kyle Busch
Darlington: Michael McDowell (2)
Indianapolis: Regan Smith
Las Vegas: Ross Chastain
Richmond: William Byron (4)
Charlotte ROVAL: Cole Whitt
Dover: Matt Kenseth
Talladega: William Byron (5)