{"id":43018,"date":"2023-08-20T18:00:48","date_gmt":"2023-08-20T23:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=43018"},"modified":"2023-08-23T13:53:05","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T18:53:05","slug":"william-byron-dominates-at-watkins-glen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2023\/08\/20\/william-byron-dominates-at-watkins-glen\/","title":{"rendered":"William Byron dominates at Watkins Glen \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Holly Cain<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. \u2013 William Byron added to his season highlight reel earning his first career NASCAR Cup Series road course victory with a dominant win in Sunday\u2019s Go Bowling at The Glen at historic Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It marks a career best fifth victory of the season – tops in the NASCAR Cup Series and most for him in a single season in a six-year career in NASCAR\u2019s top series. And the 25-year-old Charlotte native had to earn this one – holding off another championship challenger, Denny Hamlin by a healthy 2.632-seconds for the win. Byron led an impressive 66 of the 90 laps – extending his advantage over the field each lap of the final 10 lap-run to the checkered flag.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I would have to think about that a little bit though,\u2019\u2019 Byron said when asked if he felt like it was his most dominant race win. \u201cBut it definitely feels really good, just a huge credit to the race team behind me. I want to thank Max Papis. My first road course win and we worked years and years for this.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to all the guys on the team. I did a lot of laps on iRacing this week, got a new simulator at home. It\u2019s a great win. It shows when we\u2019re at our best we can perform like this.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Byron, who won Stage 2 on Sunday, noted the timing is important as the series heads into the Playoffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe seem to go through that summer slump in July and August and for some reason we just can\u2019t put the races together, I think it\u2019s the race tracks themselves. But this weekend, we came with a good mindset and focused on getting ready for the postseason. We\u2019ve had fast cars just haven\u2019t executed races, but today was flawless.”<\/p>\n

Hamlin\u2019s runner-up finish keeps the NASCAR Cup Series regular season championship still up for grabs. He trails his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. \u2013 who finished sixth – by 39 points heading into next week\u2019s Daytona regular-season finale.<\/p>\n

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell finished third with Kaulig Racing\u2019s A.J. Allmendinger and JGR\u2019s Ty Gibbs rounding out the top five.<\/p>\n

Truex, Roush-Fenway-Keselowski Racing\u2019s Chris Buescher, 23XI Racing\u2019s Tyler Reddick, Team Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano rounded out the top 10.<\/p>\n

With finishes of 15th and 21st, respectively, Roush-Fenway-Keselowski Racing owner\/driver Brad Keselowski and Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick both locked themselves into the 2023 Playoffs based on points. That leaves only one position to be decided in next Saturday night\u2019s regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway.<\/p>\n

23XI Racing\u2019s Bubba Wallace solidified his hold on that all-important 16th place in the points standings that could automatically transfer him into his first Playoff berth. Although Wallace concedes road course racing is not his strongest suit, he did exactly what he needed to, turning in a non-dramatic, consistent day. Wallace, who said he had a valuable phone conversation with six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon before the race, earned points in both stages. And his 12th place finish was his best road course finish of the five run so far this season.<\/p>\n

He now holds a 32-point advantage on the Joe Gibbs Racing rookie Gibbs and a 43-point advantage on Trackhouse Racing\u2019s Daniel Su\u00e1rez.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust executed really,\u2019\u2019 Wallace said, noting that no new race winner Sunday certainly helps his cause in pursuing his first ever Playoff berth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud of myself and that\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve felt proud of myself after a road course race. Just executed and didn\u2019t lose focus, maybe one time. And that\u2019s the difference-maker. You\u2019ve got to stay on it in these places. Hats off to my team for sticking with me and believing in me.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat day for the 23-team,\u2019\u2019 he added. \u201cNow we get to go into Daytona, still stressful as hell but it takes a little bit of the edge off.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

On the flip side of fortune, it was a troublesome day for two of the other high-profile teams still needing to race their way into the upcoming Playoffs and needing a race win.<\/p>\n

Hendrick Motorsports\u2019 Chase Elliott \u2013 the five-time and reigning Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Cup Series \u2013 came into the race already depending on a high speed Hail Mary of sorts. He was 80 points behind Wallace at the green flag. But Elliott\u2019s team was slowed by an uncharacteristic fuel miscalculation. His No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet ran out of fuel with 23 laps remaining, stopped on-course and brought out a caution flag to push him back to pit road for a fuel-up.<\/p>\n

Elliott returned to race a lap down and finished 32nd and is now 21st in the standings.<\/p>\n

The three-time Daytona International Speedway polesitter will need to earn his first win at the superspeedway to advance to the Playoffs this season and keep his eight-year run of championship eligibility going. Elliott has two runner-up finishes at Daytona, in the 2020 summer race and the 2021 DAYTONA 500. He finished 29th in the summer race there last season.<\/p>\n

Elliott wasn\u2019t made available to comment after the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s sort of the agony of a four-car team when one car does so well,\u2019\u2019 Hendrick Motorsports executive Jeff Gordon said of the day at The Glen. \u201cIt just shows you can\u2019t make any mistakes.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, we had some mistakes,\u2019\u2019 he added, \u201cClearly it was a mis-calculation with the 9 car [Elliott] and that was huge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trackhouse Racing\u2019s Daniel Su\u00e1rez started the day only one position out of the top 16 – 28 points behind Wallace. But Su\u00e1rez was the first of those on the Playoff bubble to encounter issues \u2013 going off-course at the famous \u201cbus stop\u201d portion of the Watkins Glen course and brushing the wall only five laps into the race.<\/p>\n

The off-course excursion dropped him from 10th place at the time to 24th in the field and he had to play catch-up all day, ultimately finishing 22nd. He goes into the Daytona season-finale next week 43 points out of the top 16 and also needing a victory.<\/p>\n

The rookie Gibbs actually improved his standing among those still within Playoff reach as the regular season closes. The driver of the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota \u2013 who led a race best 70 laps in Saturday\u2019s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen \u2013 ran among the top five all Sunday afternoon as well. His fifth place finish Sunday was best among those in the close fight for a Playoff berth. He goes to Daytona Beach 32-points behind Wallace and needing a win.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt like we were really fast,\u2019\u2019 the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Gibbs said.  \u201cI just didn\u2019t do a good job of getting through the guys in front of us. I feel like we were much faster than three of them in front of us and I just couldn\u2019t get by them.”<\/p>\n

Of his move into 17th place in the standings, and placing himself on the cusp of a Playoff berth, Gibbs said, \u201cI don\u2019t really know what mindset to have going there just to stay clean and try to make it to the end and have a good finish.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

The NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale to set the 2023 16-driver Playoff field takes place at the Daytona International Speedway with Saturday night\u2019s \u2019s Coke Zero Sugar 400 (7 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Austin Dillon is the defending race winner. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the DAYTONA 500 in February.<\/p>\n

NASCAR Cup Series Race – Go Bowling at The Glen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Watkins Glen International<\/strong><\/p>\n

Watkins Glen, New York<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, August 20, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

                   1. (2)  William Byron, Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

                   2. (1)  Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 90.<\/p>\n

                   3. (7)  Christopher Bell, Toyota, 90.<\/p>\n

                   4. (6)  AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

                   5. (4)  Ty Gibbs #, Toyota, 90.<\/p>\n

                   6. (19)  Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 90.<\/p>\n

                   7. (13)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 90.<\/p>\n

                   8. (8)  Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 90.<\/p>\n

                   9. (23)  Ryan Blaney, Ford, 90.<\/p>\n

                   10. (11)  Joey Logano, Ford, 90.<\/p>\n

                   11. (25)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 90.<\/p>\n

                   12. (12)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 90.<\/p>\n

                   13. (28)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

                   14. (9)  Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

                   15. (24)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 90.<\/p>\n

                   16. (17)  Austin Cindric, Ford, 90.<\/p>\n

                   17. (30)  Ryan Preece, Ford, 90.<\/p>\n

                   18. (22)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

                   19. (21)  Mike Rockenfeller, Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

                   20. (10)  Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

                   21. (33)  Kevin Harvick, Ford, 90.<\/p>\n

                   22. (14)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

                   23. (18)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

                   24. (20)  Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

                   25. (29)  Andy Lally, Ford, 90.<\/p>\n

                   26. (5)  Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

                   27. (35)  Josh Bilicki(i), Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

                   28. (34)  Cole Custer(i), Ford, 90.<\/p>\n

                   29. (31)  Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

                   30. (27)  Aric Almirola, Ford, 90.<\/p>\n

                   31. (16)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

                   32. (15)  Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 89.<\/p>\n

                   33. (32)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 89.<\/p>\n

                   34. (36)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 89.<\/p>\n

                   35. (26)  Chase Briscoe, Ford, 83.<\/p>\n

                   36. (3)  Michael McDowell, Ford, Electrical, 74.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  111.426 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  1 Hrs, 58 Mins, 44 Secs. Margin of Victory:  2.632 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  1 for 4 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  6 among 5 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   D. Hamlin 1-3;M. McDowell 4-20;W. Byron 21;A. Allmendinger 22-23;W. Byron 24-55;K. Busch 56-57;W. Byron 58-90.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  William Byron 3 times for 66 laps; Michael McDowell 1 time for 17 laps; Denny Hamlin 1 time for 3 laps; AJ Allmendinger 1 time for 2 laps; Kyle Busch 1 time for 2 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 34,24,11,54,16,5,20,23,8,45<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 24,11,54,5,16,20,9,8,23,3<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Holly Cain NASCAR Wire Service WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. \u2013 William Byron added to his season highlight reel earning his first career NASCAR Cup Series road course victory with a dominant win in Sunday\u2019s Go Bowling at The Glen at historic Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. It marks a career best fifth victory of the season […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":43022,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[16,472,212],"class_list":["post-43018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-nascar","tag-watkins-glen-international","tag-william-byron"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/GettyImages-1628008372-1-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-bbQ","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43018"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43018\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43032,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43018\/revisions\/43032"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43022"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}