{"id":43620,"date":"2023-09-24T22:57:56","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T03:57:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=43620"},"modified":"2023-09-24T22:57:56","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T03:57:56","slug":"william-byron-claims-victory-at-texas-motor-speedway-secures-hendrick-motorsports-300th-cup-series-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/24\/william-byron-claims-victory-at-texas-motor-speedway-secures-hendrick-motorsports-300th-cup-series-win\/","title":{"rendered":"William Byron claims victory at Texas Motor Speedway; secures Hendrick Motorsports’ 300th Cup Series win"},"content":{"rendered":"
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William Byron, driver of the #24 Liberty University Chevrolet, and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Rick Hendrick team owner of Hendrick Motorsport celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on September 24, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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By Holly Cain<\/em><\/p>\n

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

FORT WORTH, Texas \u2013 Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron took the lead on a restart with six laps remaining and held off the field to claim Sunday\u2019s AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 victory on a steamy-hot highly-dramatic afternoon of NASCAR Cup Series Playoff action at Texas Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n

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William Byron, driver of the #24 Liberty University Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on September 24, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

It marks a historic 300th victory for the championship Hendrick Motorsports organization \u2013 the most in NASCAR history for a NASCAR Cup Series team – and is the series-best, personal-high single-season sixth victory of the year for the 25-year-old Charlotte native Byron. He came from third place on the final restart to ultimately drive away from the field and take a 1.863-second victory ahead of Trackhouse Racing\u2019s Ross Chastain to claim an automatic berth in the Playoffs\u2019 Round of 8 which starts in three weeks.<\/p>\n

Those final six laps out front were the only laps Byron led all day. He turned in a fabulous final re-start in the race to pull ahead of 23XI Racing\u2019s Bubba Wallace, who was out front on that start after leading a race-high, career-best 111 laps in his No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota. Wallace finished third, ahead of Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin. All five drivers among the 2023 Playoff contingent.<\/p>\n

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William Byron, driver of the #24 Liberty University Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on September 24, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI finally got a good re-start at the end, and number 300 for Hendrick Motorsports, but [teammate] Kyle [Larson] really deserved this one, I\u2019ve got to say, those guys were really fast all day and I hate it for them in the end,\u2019\u2019 Byron said, noting his teammate Larson\u2019s crash while leading with 20 laps remaining.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut man, it was awesome getting this car to the front. My car loved clean air. We just fought through traffic all day. My Liberty University Chevrolet was just tight back in traffic but had good pace. \u2026 it was a grind-it-out day and our team was there at the end and I\u2019m really proud of this one as hot as it was, it was tough. We\u2019ll take it and go on to the next round.\u201d<\/p>\n

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NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick team owner of Hendrick Motorsport (L) and William Byron, driver of the #24 Liberty University Chevrolet, celebrate Hendrick Motorsports’ 300th NASCAR Cup Series win after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on September 24, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)5401<\/p><\/div>\n

As for the historic 300th win for his team, Byron grinned, \u201cI don\u2019t\u2019 know if I can even put it into words, I was such a Hendrick Motorsports fan growing up as a kid, watching Jimmie Johnson and became really fond of Jeff Gordon as I got to know him. Just thankful for all the men and women back at Hendrick Motorsports. \u2026 just appreciate all Rick Hendrick has done for me. This is awesome. We\u2019re really going to enjoy this one.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Wallace, who turned in a career day in his first career Playoff stint, was obviously disappointed in the final outcome. He started from pole position and his triple-digit laps out front were a personal best.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust choked,\u2019\u2019 Wallace said. \u201cMy worst re-start (of the day). Hate it for my team, hate it for [sponsor] McDonald\u2019s. We deserved to be in victory lane but nothing\u2019s ever guaranteed, you have to go out and fight for it and not give it away and that\u2019s what I did.<\/p>\n

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Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald’s Toyota, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on September 24, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe struggled a little in traffic but kept our heads in the game, made great strategy calls all day and had track position. So good points day.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Larson had been out front for 34 laps and was racing alongside Wallace when his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet got loose with 17 laps remaining and flushed into the outside wall. He looked strong all day leading 99 laps himself as Wallace\u2019s strongest competitor for most of the afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just went in there side-by-side and I lost it,\u2019\u2019 said the 2021 series champion Larson, who finished 31st. \u201cPretty bummed, but happy for William and Mr. H. (Hendrick) Three hundred Cup series wins is incredible and a great night overall for our organization.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

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Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald’s Toyota, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on September 24, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Stewart-Haas Racing\u2019s Kevin Harvick, Roush Fenway Keselowski driver Brad Keselowski. \u2013 also a Playoff driver, Trackhouse Racing\u2019s Daniel Su\u00e1rez, JTG Daugherty Racing\u2019s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and SHR\u2019s Chase Briscoe rounded out the top 10.<\/p>\n

There were 11 caution periods on the day and multiple issues for the 12 Playoff drivers competing in this three-round series of races to decide which eight will advance to the next round. Byron\u2019s victory is an automatic ticket. Several other Playoff drivers had impactful days \u2013 for the good and bad \u2013 as well.<\/p>\n

Among the other Playoff competitors, RFK\u2019s Chris Buescher finished 14th and JGR\u2019s Martin Truex Jr. \u2013 the regular season champion \u2013 finished 17th. Defending race winner Tyler Reddick \u2013 Wallace\u2019s 23XI Racing teammate \u2013 was 25th.<\/p>\n

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Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald’s Toyota, and Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Fastenal Ford, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on September 24, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney (28th), Hendrick\u2019s Larson (31st) and Richard Childress Racing\u2019s Kyle Busch (34th) all suffered DNFs \u2013 all involved in incidents.<\/p>\n

It was indicative of the afternoon with 10 Playoff drivers experiencing some sort of setback \u2013 from crashes, to pit road penalties to pit road issues.<\/p>\n

Bell had jack issues early. Hamlin had a pit road door-to-door collision with his JGR rookie teammate Ty Gibbs but was able to continue, while Gibbs\u2019 Toyota suffered enough damage he had to retire early.<\/p>\n

Busch\u2019s No. 8 RCR Chevrolet slammed into the outside wall only a couple laps after the two-time series champion had radioed to his team that he thought he had a front tire going down. He stayed out on track and ultimately suffered a rear tire failure on Lap 74, that slammed his Chevrolet hard into the wall. Busch drove it backwards all the way around the track and onto pit road, but the RCR team was unable to repair it.<\/p>\n

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The NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 playoff drivers pose onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on September 24, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI was going to come to pit road and I second-guessed it and said, \u2018I don\u2019t think so, something\u2019s wrong, something\u2019s not right but it\u2019s not a flat,\u2019\u2019\u2019 Busch said. \u201cThen all on its own, it just turned to the bottom of the race track in Turn 1, just swapped ends on me.<\/p>\n

\u201cHate it for everybody. For sure I thought our car was top five today.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the victory, Byron earned the automatic ticket to the next round. Hamlin now leads the points standings by 37 points on the ninth place elimination line. Buescher (plus-22), Bell (plus-20), Truex (plus-19), Chastain (plus-12), Keselowski (plus-8) and Larson (plus-2) round out the top eight.<\/p>\n

Wallace is the first driver below the elimination line \u2013 two points behind Larson. Reddick is three points off the elimination line, followed by Blaney (-11) and Busch (-17) heading to the always unpredictable Talladega Superspeedway next week for the YallaWood 500 (2 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Chase Elliott is the defending race winner.<\/p>\n

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NASCAR Cup Series Race – AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400<\/strong><\/p>\n

Texas Motor Speedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fort Worth, Texas<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, September 24, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

                   1. (18)  William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                   2. (5)  Ross Chastain (P), Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                   3. (1)  Bubba Wallace (P), Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

                   4. (9)  Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

                   5. (10)  Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

                   6. (22)  Kevin Harvick, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                   7. (3)  Brad Keselowski (P), Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                   8. (8)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                   9. (24)  Ricky Stenhouse  Jr., Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                   10. (31)  Chase Briscoe, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                   11. (29)  Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                   12. (14)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                   13. (28)  Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                   14. (2)  Chris Buescher (P), Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                   15. (17)  Michael McDowell, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                   16. (19)  Carson Hocevar(i), Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                   17. (16)  Martin Truex  Jr. (P), Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

                   18. (21)  Aric Almirola, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                   19. (26)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                   20. (30)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                   21. (20)  Joey Logano, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                   22. (34)  BJ McLeod(i), Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                   23. (25)  Ryan Preece, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                   24. (33)  Zane Smith(i), Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                   25. (15)  Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

                   26. (27)  Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 262.<\/p>\n

                   27. (32)  Austin Cindric, Ford, Accident, 261.<\/p>\n

                   28. (23)  Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, Accident, 258.<\/p>\n

                   29. (6)  AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, Accident, 255.<\/p>\n

                   30. (12)  Erik Jones, Chevrolet, Accident, 255.<\/p>\n

                   31. (11)  Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, DVP, 248.<\/p>\n

                   32. (35)  JJ Yeley(i), Ford, Accident, 241.<\/p>\n

                   33. (4)  Ty Gibbs #, Toyota, Accident, 77.<\/p>\n

                   34. (7)  Kyle Busch (P), Chevrolet, DVP, 73.<\/p>\n

                   35. (36)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, Accident, 52.<\/p>\n

                   36. (13)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, Accident, 40.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  123.569 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 14 Mins, 28 Secs. Margin of Victory:  1.863 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  11 for 55 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  22 among 13 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   B. Wallace (P) 1-38;A. Allmendinger 39;A. Bowman 40;T. Dillon 41-43;C. Elliott (P) 44;B. Wallace (P) 45-57;R. Chastain (P) 58;B. Wallace (P) 59-76;C. Buescher (P) 77-78;T. Reddick (P) 79-114;J. Yeley(i) 115;B. Wallace (P) 116-142;K. Larson (P) 143-167;E. Jones 168;A. Cindric 169;K. Larson (P) 170;E. Jones 171;K. Larson (P) 172-210;E. Jones 211;J. Yeley(i) 212;K. Larson (P) 213-246;B. Wallace (P) 247-261;W. Byron (P) 262-267.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Bubba Wallace (P) 5 times for 111 laps; Kyle Larson (P) 4 times for 99 laps; Tyler Reddick (P) 1 time for 36 laps; William Byron (P) 1 time for 6 laps; Erik Jones 3 times for 3 laps; Ty Dillon 1 time for 3 laps; JJ Yeley(i) 2 times for 2 laps; Chris Buescher (P) 1 time for 2 laps; Austin Cindric 1 time for 1 lap; AJ Allmendinger 1 time for 1 lap; Alex Bowman 1 time for 1 lap; Chase Elliott (P) 1 time for 1 lap; Ross Chastain (P) 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 45,17,20,24,34,9,12,14,11,23<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 5,43,11,12,17,9,6,1,23,99<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Holly Cain NASCAR Wire Service FORT WORTH, Texas \u2013 Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron took the lead on a restart with six laps remaining and held off the field to claim Sunday\u2019s AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 victory on a steamy-hot highly-dramatic afternoon of NASCAR Cup Series Playoff action at Texas Motor Speedway. It […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":43633,"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":[16,21,212],"class_list":["post-43620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-nascar","tag-texas-motor-speedway","tag-william-byron"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1699455105-1-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1708&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-bly","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43620","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=43620"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43635,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43620\/revisions\/43635"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43633"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}