By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
William Byron’s rookie Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season has seen it’s high points through 10 races: laps led at Phoenix, a top 10 at Texas, three final-round qualifying efforts. Sunday’s GEICO 500 saw another high point, one that was met with metal-crunching defeat.
Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway was only the second plate race for Byron in the Cup Series, and he started the 188-lap race from 17th spot. The Hendrick Motorsports car eventually jumped to the lead on lap 62, shortly before chaos ensued in his windshield.
The pack piled up on the backstretch on lap 72 and Byron took to the run-off area to avoid contact. And it worked, as Byron escaped damage and later returned to the lead in the final stage, leading a total of 14 laps in his No. 24 Chevrolet.
The happy day took a hard hit with 22 laps to go when Byron took up the track and spun Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson, sparking the Big One.
“It’s really unfortunate. We were having a really good race until that point,” Byron said. “That was the worst possible spot to be in.”
Byron didn’t make contact with Johnson, however, was close enough to disturb the air to cause the accident.
“It was just the air, I don’t think I really hit him,” he said. “We got connected in his left rear that sent him around and then me around. I don’t think I was close enough, I just packed air on his corner panel which sent him sideways. I got hit from behind and all heck broke loose after that.”
Byron’s day was done after the wreck, ending his day with his first-career DNF in the 29th spot. The positives, however, are plenty.
“I got some stage points, led laps,” he said. “Pretty crazy, the cars are hard to handle. A lot more moving around from the cars than other races. Overall, I thought we were doing well.
“We will learn from it come back in Daytona and have a better run.”