Byron Takes Home Second Career Victory
William Byron has often struggled in Homestead, Florida. But that changed Sunday evening when he won his second career race – despite starting in 31st.
“This whole team did a phenomenal job,” Byron said to FOX Sports reporter Jamie Little after the race, “(The) pit crew, over the wall. (I am) extremely blessed.”
From the drop of the green flag, Byron was on a tear, gaining eight positions in the first lap (23rd) and gaining nine more (14th) by lap nine. After a competition caution on lap 26, a quick pit stop vaulted Byron into the top 10.
Byron continued to show speed by moving up as high as second in stage one, before a slow pit stop with less than 15 laps remaining in the stage tossed him back to seventh. Byron would finish stage one in fourth.
Byron began stage two on the outside of row three but settled into third place for most of the stage. However, a caution on lap 153 would alter the end of the stage.
After Byron stopped under caution, he restarted on the inside of row two for a one-lap sprint to end the stage. Heading into turn four, Denny Hamlin’s and Martin Truex Jr.’s cars made contact, allowing Byron to squeak by on the inside and take the stage two win.
Byron would begin the final stage in the lead, holding on for 42 laps until another caution came out with 67 laps to go. Byron pitted, but fell to fifth after another slow pit stop.
However, none of that mattered as Byron went from fifth to first in just two laps after the restart. He would go on to lead the final 58 laps and cruise to a victory over second-place Tyler Reddick by 2.8 seconds.
While the win was only the second of Byron’s NASCAR career, it was the first Cup Series win for crew chief Rudy Fugle. Much has been made of the chemistry that Byron and Fugle share, as they won seven races together in the Camping World Truck Series in 2016. That chemistry was on full display after the race as the two shared a hug and a high-five.
“That guy has been huge for my career,” Byron said of Fugle to FOX, “He’s the reason I’m here. I’m glad we could get him (a win) … he’s just awesome.”
Having finished 24th, 39th and ninth in his last three tries at Homestead, Byron was happy his hard work paid off the fourth time around.
“It was just a really smooth day,” Byron said to FOX. “We worked hard in the winter on this track … I think we went to the sim four or five times this offseason.”
The win also clinched William Byron a spot in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, provided he attempts to qualify for the remaining regular season races and stays in the top 30 in points. The playoffs will begin on Labor Day Weekend at Darlington Raceway.
Byron’s next race will be the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this Sunday at 3:30 p.m. EST on FOX.
Joshua Lipowski is a Sports Reporter. Follow him on Instagram at @j_lipowski23.