Byron and Larson to the NASCAR Final: Last spots and drama at Martinsville!

William Byron Clinches Championship 4 Spot with Martinsville Victory

In an exciting final of the third round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, William Byron took the victory at Martinsville Speedway, securing his place in the Championship 4. The adrenaline-filled competition saw Byron surpass Ryan Blaney in a decisive maneuver. Byron, driving the No. 24 Chevrolet, made a bold move in turn 1 with 43 laps to go, touching Blaney in the left rear to take the lead. From that moment on, he led the rest of the race, defending his position on a restart with 11 laps to go. Byron dominated the race, leading 304 of the 500 laps, achieving his third victory of the season.

“I thought William had the race of his life,” commented Jeff Gordon, vice president of Hendrick Motorsports.

Jeff Gordon

This victory marks Byron’s first in 11 races since August at Iowa Speedway and his first in a playoff elimination race. Byron, who won the regular season championship, demonstrated his resilience after a challenging period. Ryan Blaney, also in the fight for a spot in the final, finished second despite qualifying in the 31st position and leading 177 laps.

William Byron led the final 43 laps to win at Martinsville Speedway, securing third place in the Championship 4. The final contender for the NASCAR Cup title will be Kyle Larson, who qualified on points and will join Byron, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Briscoe.Kyle Larson, Byron’s teammate at Hendrick Motorsports, secured the final spot in the final with a fourth-place finish, surpassing Christopher Bell by seven points. The Championship 4 will be composed of William Byron, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Briscoe. The final will be held on November 2 at Phoenix Raceway. Both Hamlin and Briscoe suffered mechanical issues during the race. Hamlin had an engine failure on lap 334, while Briscoe had the same problem on lap 295. Despite these setbacks, Briscoe had already secured his place in the Championship 4.