By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
William Byron’s playoff run in the 2020 Cup Series season came to end Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, as his No. 24 burst into smoke before the halfway point of the 500-lapper.
Running 10th in his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Byron contacted the rear bumper of Christopher Bell for position, causing the No. 24’s radiator to leak fluid onto the half-mile track.
The No. 95 of Bell apparently slowed to avoid an off-the-pace Joey Gase.
“The No. 51 car [Gase] checked up in the middle of the straightaway,” Byron said. “As fast as we were running the top, I was right behind the No. 95 and I literally had nowhere to go. You can’t stop in the middle of the straightaway when everyone is so committed to the top.”
Hopes of advancing in the #NASCARPlayoffs come to an end for @WilliamByron at @BMSupdates.
He heads to the garage with significant damage to his No. 24. pic.twitter.com/lCZo5tsWZi
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 20, 2020
For Byron, he was unhappy with Gase, with the DNF kicking Byron out of the playoffs in the Round of 16 elimination race.
“Ridiculous that that is what takes us out,” he said. “I feel we had a shot at a top five or seven. I felt pretty good, we just needed a couple good pit stops.”
Winning the regular season finale three weeks back at Daytona International Speedway, his first playoff season ends after just one round.
“Just super disappointing,” he said. “I don’t really — I have to go back and watch that because that was kind of ridiculous.”
"… just ridiculous that that's what takes us out."@WilliamByron talks about what ended his night and championship hopes.
📺: NBCSN | 📲: https://t.co/BHXvTwrLoC pic.twitter.com/TrxHGkNz6g
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 20, 2020