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.
William Byron’s difficult 2019 campaign in the Cup Series continued last weekend at Kansas Speedway, as the second-year Hendrick Motorsports driver finishe 20th at Kansas Speedway.
And like most of the season, it was a sharp decline from where he qualified.
After 11 drivers failed prerace inspection for Saturday night’s Digital Ally 400, Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet advanced to the third starting position.
The situation gave Byron his fourth top-three start in the last six races, and his fifth top-three start of 2019. In perspective, Byron only scored one top-five start in 36 races last year in his rookie season.
Though qualifying has been on the rise for the North Carolina native, it’s the race runs that have hit team No. 24 hard.
Rolling from third, Byron was looking strong in the opening 50 laps. Here, he jumped into the second spot after putting on a back-and-forth fight for position with eventual race winner Brad Keselowski in the top five.
And with a turn of strategy that has become expected from the No. 24 team, Byron led four laps on the night. This gave Byron 92 laps led on the season.
However, being nabbed on pit road for removing equipment from the pit box on lap 62, the remainder of the night saw Byron struggle to jump back inside the top 10.
Finishing 11th in Stage 2, a loose racecar kept him from making nessesary hay to join teammates Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott up front. A 20th-place finish was all that was in store for Byron.
As mentioned, there has been a consistent decline shown from the No. 24 team from start to finish in each weekend. Qualifying top three on five occassions, Byron has only two top-10 finishes. In fact, Byron has finished lower or even than he started in eight of the 11 races this year.
Next up is Charlotte Motor Speedway, a home track where Byron will race in the Monster Energy Open for a shot at a spot in the All-Star Race.
Catch up on Mid-Pack with Zach HERE
List of 20th-Place Finishers in 2019
Daytona: Clint Bowyer
Atlanta: Daniel Hemric
Las Vegas: Austin Dillon
ISM: Matt Tifft
Auto Club: Paul Menard
Martinsville: Matt DiBenedetto
Texas: Chris Buescher
Bristol: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Richmond: Ryan Preece
Talladega: Martin Truex Jr.
Dover: Matt DiBenedetto[2]
Kansas: William Byron
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.
William Byron’s difficult 2019 campaign in the Cup Series continued last weekend at Kansas Speedway, as the second-year Hendrick Motorsports driver finishe 20th at Kansas Speedway.
And like most of the season, it was a sharp decline from where he qualified.
After 11 drivers failed prerace inspection for Saturday night’s Digital Ally 400, Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet advanced to the third starting position.
The situation gave Byron his fourth top-three start in the last six races, and his fifth top-three start of 2019. In perspective, Byron only scored one top-five start in 36 races last year in his rookie season.
Though qualifying has been on the rise for the North Carolina native, it’s the race runs that have hit team No. 24 hard.
Rolling from third, Byron was looking strong in the opening 50 laps. Here, he jumped into the second spot after putting on a back-and-forth fight for position with eventual race winner Brad Keselowski in the top five.
And with a turn of strategy that has become expected from the No. 24 team, Byron led four laps on the night. This gave Byron 92 laps led on the season.
However, being nabbed on pit road for removing equipment from the pit box on lap 62, the remainder of the night saw Byron struggle to jump back inside the top 10.
Finishing 11th in Stage 2, a loose racecar kept him from making nessesary hay to join teammates Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott up front. A 20th-place finish was all that was in store for Byron.
As mentioned, there has been a consistent decline shown from the No. 24 team from start to finish in each weekend. Qualifying top three on five occassions, Byron has only two top-10 finishes. In fact, Byron has finished lower or even than he started in eight of the 11 races this year.
Next up is Charlotte Motor Speedway, a home track where Byron will race in the Monster Energy Open for a shot at a spot in the All-Star Race.
Catch up on Mid-Pack with Zach HERE
List of 20th-Place Finishers in 2019
Daytona: Clint Bowyer
Atlanta: Daniel Hemric
Las Vegas: Austin Dillon
ISM: Matt Tifft
Auto Club: Paul Menard
Martinsville: Matt DiBenedetto
Texas: Chris Buescher
Bristol: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Richmond: Ryan Preece
Talladega: Martin Truex Jr.
Dover: Matt DiBenedetto[2]
Kansas: William Byron